Judge Tanya Chutkan has blocked President Donald Trump from proceeding with construction of a planned 250-foot arch, issuing a temporary restraining order pending the outcome of a lawsuit challenging the proposed monument.

Ms Chutkan on Thursday night issued a ruling halting all construction plans for the 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington after plaintiffs argued the monument would generate the kind of traffic jams and attention that would ruin the solemnity of the cemetery, where many military veterans are buried.

Mr Trump’s administration showed an urgency in commencing construction on the site, saying work will begin the same day it receives approval from the National Capital Planning Commission.

The administration got the approval on Thursday after the NCPC members voted 8-4 in favour of the project.

But Ms Chutkan sided with the plaintiffs and issued a restraining order that will pause proposed construction for the next 14 days.

“The harm is certain,” the judge wrote. “Defendants initially notified the court that construction could begin as early as November 5, 2026, if the NCPC approves the project at its meeting that day and the Department of the Interior authorises construction.” 

Ms Chutkan added, “Second, the District and Virginia will incur significant unrecoverable costs. As soon as construction begins, DDOT will need to expend staff time and operating resources to affirmatively and proactively manage temporary detours, crashes or disabled vehicles.” 

Plaintiffs include three veterans, a historian, the District of Columbia and Virginia, who argued Mr Trump required congressional approval before proceeding with construction. They argued the NCPC approval was insufficient to construct monuments on federal lands in the nation’s capital.

The arch was projected to be twice the size of the Lincoln Memorial, include gold statues, and be completed within three years.