President Trump’s administration is moving forward with a plan to build a 250‑foot memorial arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, a project the White House says will honor America’s veterans and become a major tourist attraction. The proposal matters to Arlington residents because the arch will dominate the landscape near one of the nation’s most visited historic sites.
On Tuesday, nine members of the Kennedy political dynasty filed a motion to intervene in two existing lawsuits seeking to block the arch. The relatives – children and grandchildren of Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy – argue that a forensic study shows the structure will permanently cast a shadow over the Kennedy gravesites and the graves of servicemen and women, fundamentally altering the experience of visiting those sites.
According to Fox 5 DC, the motion states the shadow would be a “permanent denigration” of the gravesites, preventing the family from appreciating the area as intended. The Kennedy plaintiffs are represented by veteran Washington lawyer Norm Eisen and the Democracy Defenders Fund. Notably, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the President’s health and human services secretary, did not join the lawsuit.
The legal fight follows an 8‑4 vote by the National Capital Planning Commission to approve the arch after hours of public testimony that largely opposed the project. Trump appointees hold a majority on the panel, and they argued the arch would celebrate the nation, honor veterans, and draw visitors. The White House spokesperson called the lawsuit “unfortunate,” emphasizing that the structure is designed to unite the nation and honor the heroes resting at Arlington.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan recently ordered a 14‑day halt to any construction, citing the pending litigation. The motion also alleges that the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior took unlawful steps by granting final authorization on Nov. 5, allowing crews to be ready to begin work immediately. If construction proceeds, the schedule calls for year‑round work 20 hours a day over more than three years.
The administration has launched a new website to showcase the arch, describing it as a “beautiful and fitting monument” that will rise in gold ornamentation and stately gray granite. The White House said it is confident the project will be fully vindicated as the litigation moves forward.
What’s next: The court’s 14‑day pause gives both sides time to prepare for a hearing on the merits of the Kennedy family’s motion. Arlington residents can expect further court filings and possibly additional hearings before any construction can resume.
Sources: fox5dc.com
