Three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian have sued President Donald Trump to stop the construction of his 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., claiming the president had not sought proper approval for it.
The veterans and historian, represented by the nonprofit progressive advocacy group Public Citizen, say the proposed arch would stand in Memorial Circle and obstruct the “historically significant view” between Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.
“The President’s planned arch will be a continuous visual affront to this principle and a personal affront to people, like me, who have fought for this Nation and devoted their careers to serving it,” Michael Lemmon, the lead plaintiff in the case and a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, said in a statement.
The arch, referred to as “Independence Arch,” is still in the planning stages. But its location would have it stand between the Arlington House and the Lincoln Memorial, which stand on opposite sides of the Potomac River to symbolize the national reconciliation of the nation after the Civil War.
The plaintiffs say that, as a commemorative work in the nation’s capital, the arch requires approval by Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission.
It does not appear that the design plans have been submitted to any of the named commissions or consulted with the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission. However, it’s unclear if the president has approved design plans to go before the commissions.
“The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world. It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today,” White House Spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement.
“President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest Nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves.”
Trump has reportedly favored the largest proposed design of the arch at 250 feet – seeing it as a symbol of national pride ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
Shaun Byrnes, one of the plaintiffs and a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War, said in a statement: “I fear this massive expression of domination will overshadow the values and spirit of those who valiantly served our country and lie in Arlington National Cemetery: duty, honor, sacrifice and love of country.”
Jon Gundersen, also a plaintiff and veteran of the U.S. Army who served in the Vietnam War, said Arlington National Cemetery and the view to Lincoln Memorial “should not be desecrated by the planned Arch.”
The new lawsuit seeking to intervene in Trump’s latest construction project plan is similar to another, brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, seeking to stop the president from building his 90,000-square-foot ballroom attached to the White House.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has prioritized putting his personal design preferences in and on federal buildings.
In the lawsuit over the ballroom, a federal judge asked the Trump administration to uphold its promise to submit design plans to the Commission of Fine Arts and National Capital Planning Commission before construction begins.
