(AFP) – The White House on Friday dismissed a legal ruling that blocked President Donald Trump’s massive triumphal arch project in Washington, criticizing an “activist” judge for temporarily halting construction. The arch is one of several building projects launched by Trump in a bid to put his personal stamp on the US capital, despite fierce local opposition and multiple legal challenges. “We are confident we will be fully vindicated as this litigation proceeds and look forward to seeing the completion of this magnificent Arch,” the White House said.
District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing the case, ruled that the Trump administration cannot start construction for two weeks while the court considers challenges to its legality. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) — which is stacked with Trump supporters — voted 8-4 to approve the project after hearing hours of testimony from dozens of furious opponents. Chief among the complaints was the location of the 250-foot (76-meter) tall structure adjacent to the hallowed Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of American service members.
The giant arch would be much taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, its inspiration. It would also tower over the Lincoln Memorial, directly across the Potomac River.
Four dissenting commissioners had called for the decision to be delayed, noting there were legal concerns and a lack of congressional appropriation to fund the project. They also questioned the administration’s claims that the arch would be needed for military purposes. Trump has referred to plans for snipers and drones being based on the arch, although he has not explained what they’d be used for. As expected, given the panel’s make-up, it voted against a delay, and the Trump administration said it aimed to start work right away. However, Chutkan’s ruling sided with military veterans and the attorneys general of Washington and Virginia, who had sued seeking to halt construction.
Trump’s other projects in Washington include a White House ballroom, for which he demolished an entire wing of the presidential mansion. Another is the botched renovation of the Reflecting Pool, a rectangular water basin on the National Mall. Trump has also pushed to revamp the East Potomac Golf Links, a historic waterfront Washington golf course, cutting down hundreds of trees before a judge halted the project.
Trump wants to place the arch on what is currently a traffic circle covered in grass. Proponents claim that Congress approved the construction of a monument at the site over a century ago. However, that plan envisioned two large columns, meant to signify the North and the South in the US Civil War, not an arch.
More than 100 people, often speaking as representatives of organizations, on Thursday spoke to the NCPC to express their nearly unanimous opposition. Kicking off remarks was Congressman Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, which oversees public parks. “This arch would dishonor America, our ideals and our laws,” he said. “We’ll soon have a new Congress that takes the rule of law very seriously,” he added, referring to the Democrats’ winning control of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
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