The Arlington County Board in Virginia filed a lawsuit on October 8, 2026, opposing the construction of the Triumphal Arch, marking the first legal action taken by a governmental body against President Donald Trump's planned monument. The lawsuit, submitted in the Eastern District of Virginia, criticized the expedited timeline of the project at Memorial Circle, which it claims has not undergone the necessary review process.
The lawsuit states, "The National Park Service, the agency responsible for projects on national park land such as Memorial Circle, is proceeding full-speed toward ground-disturbing construction. Although the agency has claimed that a final decision to construct the Arch has not yet been made and purports to be engaged in a routine decisional process, that rushed process appears to be a pretext designed to shore up justifications for building the Arch in accordance with the President's repeated marching orders."
The Arlington County Board is requesting that the construction be halted to ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and to allow for proper analysis and testing. Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti stated, "The Arlington County Board has filed this lawsuit because our community has the most to lose from this egregious and unlawful proposed project," emphasizing the negative impacts the project could have on the county and its residents.
The county is represented in the lawsuit by the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward. White House spokesman Davis Ingle responded, stating that the Trump administration has complied with all procedural and legal requirements and expressed confidence that the lawsuit will be dismissed. Ingle described the arch as a potential iconic landmark that would enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery.
Concerns were also raised by Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, regarding safety issues related to the 250-foot arch, particularly following a deadly crash over the Potomac River in January 2025. Nelson criticized Trump's plans for the arch, suggesting it could become a military complex.
The arch has received early approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, but a separate lawsuit by a group of veterans and an architectural historian is arguing that Congressional approval is necessary. A judge in that case ordered the administration to notify the court 48 hours before any construction-related activities begin.
The arch is part of several projects initiated by Trump in Washington, including renovations to public golf courses and proposals to demolish the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.