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By Tom Sanders
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Construction of Donald Trump’s proposed “triumphal arch” in D.C. could begin later today, despite the project still facing a number of significant legal setbacks.
Court documents seen by Newsweek indicate a construction company, Grunley Construction Company, has applied to begin work on the 250-foot arch in the middle of DC’s Memorial Circle.
The project, which Trump has long coveted as part of his efforts to remake the US Capitol in his image, “could commence as early as November 5, 2026” if approved, according to a court filing from October.
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A federal panel is set to convene later today with approval as the only item on the agenda; the meeting is online-only and is expected to take around five hours due to the high level of public participation, with about 120 concerned citizens signed up to speak. You can view it here.
Despite being mired in legal challenges since its announcement, approval is almost certainly expected. The planning commission previously greenlit the preliminary site and building plans over the summer, after the Trump-appointed Commission for Fine Arts approved them in May.
On Wednesday, Grunley Construction applied for a special-use permit from the National Park Service (NPS) to begin mobilization on Memorial Circle. In addition to the application, the NPS issued a permit for a “First Amendment demonstration” at the proposed site tomorrow morning, in which protesters are expected to “temporarily erect a seventeen-foot-high scale arch model made from bamboo.”
Newsweek has contacted the NPS and Grunley Construction Company via email for additional comment.
A previous legal challenge to the arch called the project "flagrantly unlawful,” and argued its construction would “inflict irreparable harm” on the area, with plaintiffs claiming it defies at least five federal statutes.
“Seemingly recognizing that the Arch cannot plausibly be defended on its merits, Defendants have deployed an ever-growing series of strategies to outrun or short-circuit judicial review,” the defense wrote.
“They have introduced eleventh-hour declarations advancing deeply implausible national security justifications for the Arch… [and] have announced they intend to begin construction ‘immediately’ after the Arch is formally approved.”
The application also includes a clause stating that contractors are not required to inform the Court that construction has begun until 24 hours after it starts.
The arch, which would stand twice as tall as the Lincoln Memorial, has been heavily criticized for obstructing views in the capital, disrupting traffic in DC’s busy metropolitan area, and insulting service members buried at the nearby Arlington Cemetery.
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In a lawsuit filed by the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia against the NPS, lawyers called the project “legally indefensible” and pointed out it had not yet been approved by Congress.
Construction of the arch “is flagrantly illegal and will cause serious, immediate, and irreparable harm to the District and its residents,” D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb previously told Newsweek.
“We’re filing this lawsuit now to protect DC’s unique interests and critical role in preserving the safeguards that keep our nation’s capital beautiful and safe,” he added.
The government, meanwhile, claims Congress approved the arch over 100 years ago when it also authorized construction of a bridge over the Potomac River.
Speaking about the project on Monday, President Trump touted the arch’s ability to serve as a key military asset.
"It's right smack in the middle of everything, so very important for our military. But from a beautification standpoint, it'll be the most beautiful arch in the world," he said.
Architecturally, the arch is designed to resemble the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but stand 80ft taller. Among its features are floodlights that would make it visible to pilots, and an eternal flame held by a 60-foot-tall golden angel flanked by golden eagles.
The arch would be almost as big as the U.S. Capitol building, and would be visible across most of the city. It would also be located near Ronald Reagan International Airport, which complainants have claimed would threaten local wildlife and complicate flight paths for pilots entering the city.
"These harms cannot be remedied if construction of the Arch proceeds," the legal complaint reads, adding that "the unlawful construction of a project of this scale will be difficult to undo."
The Trump administration has claimed the project will take about two to three years to complete, with crews working 20 hours a day. In a court filing submitted last week, the administration said the first six months of the project will involve underground excavation and foundational work, which they argue would not require judicial intervention as it would not disrupt the view.
The National Capitol Planning Commission meeting is set for 1 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood, Gray R. Thomas
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