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Archive photo · 20 June 2015National Capital Planning Commission Set To Vote On Trump’s 250-Foot Washington Arch Thursday
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NCPC is expected Thursday to approve Trump’s 250-foot Washington arch. Legal challenges are underway; a judge could block construction despite approval.
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Final vote, looming court fight
The National Capital Planning Commission is expected to vote Thursday on President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, and the Trump administration has said it can begin construction the same day. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee overseeing the case, has said she must be told of any decision by the planning commission within an hour, and the administration must also give 30 minutes notice before any action on construction.
The Reuters account says a judge considering several legal challenges could still block the start of construction, but the Justice Department has said an initial six to eight months of construction focused on excavation and foundation work could begin this week. Trump has framed the project as a military asset and a beautification goal, telling an event on Monday, "It's right smack in the middle of everything, so very important for our military."
Opposition, lawsuits, and warnings
Representative Jared Huffman, a Democrat of California, said, "The arch is an illegal project. It’s a monstrosity," and he planned to testify before the National Capital Planning Commission on Thursday.
The New York Times reported that Democrats in Congress, fresh off a landslide victory in Tuesday’s midterm elections, are threatening to kill Mr. Trump’s arch when they take control of both chambers in January.
The Reuters account said the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia sued the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior on Saturday, seeking to halt the start of construction and arguing that Congress has not approved it.
The NPR account said the White House has repeatedly said the arch will "enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery" and be "one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world."
What happens next
The Reuters account said the National Capital Planning Commission is set to hold a meeting at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday to vote on the project after hearing from dozens of opponents, including Democratic lawmakers.
The Reuters account also said the National Park Service may issue a permit or other authorization on Thursday, and launch construction this week, after a court filing on Tuesday.
The CNN account said the arch’s aggressive timeline is likely to be complicated by legal challenges, including a high-profile lawsuit brought by veterans and preservationists.
The CNN account said the National Park Service review released in August acknowledged that the arch would have "adverse" effects on as many as 42 historic sites, with the most serious concentrated on six near the structure.