Chutkan Halts Trump Triumphal Arch for Two Weeks Hours After Federal Panel Approves It

Status: Confirmed by the Washington Post and CBS News. The Hill reported the National Capital Planning Commission meeting disruption. The ruling was issued late Thursday, Nov. 5, and was widely reported Friday morning, Nov. 6.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan paused construction of President Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington for two weeks, about an hour after the National Capital Planning Commission approved it, the Washington Post reports. CBS News says the temporary restraining order bars construction-related activity — including excavation, demolition, land disturbance, utility work and roadway closures — while further proceedings play out. Chutkan wrote that plaintiffs are likely to succeed in showing the government did not follow required legal processes, CBS reports.

Plaintiffs

The Washington Post says the challengers include three Vietnam War veterans, a historic preservationist, the District of Columbia government and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

NCPC meeting crashed

The Hill reports that the commission's virtual meeting crashed after about 90 minutes during public testimony that was largely against the project, shortly after a tense exchange with Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). CBS says the panel later voted 8-4 to approve the plans after hours of public comment.

No construction has been cleared to begin under the temporary order. The court has not issued a final ruling on the project's legality.

Related

Courts desk readers: this is a District of Columbia federal TRO on a White House construction project; coverage is filed on the Trump administration desk because of the NCPC approval and presidential project framing.