A United States federal court has ordered the halt of the commissioning of the monumental Arc de Triomphe promoted by President Donald Trump for the capital, Washington, a project that contemplated an operational base for military drones, sniper positions, and ammunition storage.
The decision, signed by Judge Tanya Chutkan, has been issued just a few hours after the plan received final approval, despite the intense public opposition and numerous complaints about its implications, according to CNN.
The National Capital Planning Commission, one of the two federal agencies tasked with overseeing architectural and design modifications in Washington, had given its final approval to the monument in a session held on Thursday, after a long day in which more than 120 people, including numerous veterans, lined up to ask that the initiative be suspended.
After more than eight hours of public remarks, the commission backed the construction of the arch with eight votes in favor and four against, around 22:29 local time. However, less than an hour later, the federal magistrate—designated by former President Barack Obama—issued an order in which any “starting, conducting, or carrying out of any activity related to the construction near the proposed location” was prohibited.
Chutkan has accompanied her ruling with a memorandum in which she details some of the reasons for the precautionary measure, including the possible economic impact of the project and the foreseeable traffic problems in the area, while the Trump Administration argued that the works could begin practically immediately after the final vote.
The New York president has defended that the idea for this Arc de Triomphe dates back to the Civil War era and has specified that it would be located next to the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
According to the plans, the structure would reach 76 meters in height and would be topped with large gilded statues of an angel and several eagles, conceived to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
Aviation specialists have warned about risks to air safety due to the proximity of the monument to the Reagan National Airport in Washington. They have also warned that the construction would reduce the line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial, one of the city’s most emblematic enclaves, and the Arlington National Cemetery, the country’s main military burial ground.