Judge to Hear Bid to Block Trump’s Proposed Washington Arch

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is scheduled to hear arguments Friday on whether to halt steps toward President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch in Washington. Three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian are seeking a preliminary injunction while their lawsuit proceeds. The plaintiffs argue that the project needs separate congressional authorization and would harm historic views between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. They say those views connect monuments intended to represent unity after the Civil War, and that construction would affect their visits to the cemetery. The Justice Department argues that the plaintiffs lack legal standing and that a 1925 law authorizing Arlington Memorial Bridge also supports the arch. The competing legal arguments have not been resolved. The court will consider whether to block construction-related steps before deciding the broader dispute. The administration says construction could begin as early as November 5, if the National Capital Planning Commission approves final plans and the Interior Department and National Park Service grant the required authorizations. The commission’s final-plan...