Kennedy Family Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration's Arlington Arch Plan
Nine family members argue the gilded structure would block views of gravesites and lack proper congressional authorization.
By Zoe Harrison ·
Nine members of the Kennedy family have filed a federal lawsuit to stop the construction of a gilded triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. The legal action seeks a court order to halt the project, which the Trump administration proposes to build in the area. The family contends that the structure’s placement would disrupt the visual integrity of the memorial grounds.
The proposed arch is modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and would feature a winged figure resembling Lady Liberty on top. Rory Kennedy and Maxwell Kennedy, who spoke on behalf of the family, stated that the structure would obstruct sightlines to the graves of their relatives. They specifically cited the burial sites of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Edward Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Ethel Kennedy. The family warned that the impact on these memorials could be permanent.
Beyond the immediate visual impact, the plaintiffs argue that the arch would undermine the specific protections governing the cemetery. They described the structure as casting shadows over the burial places of family members who served the country. This, they said, would weaken the democratic safeguards established to preserve the site for future generations. The complaint also notes that the arch would interrupt the symbolic visual connection between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, landmarks designed to face one another as a symbol of national reunification.
A central point of the legal challenge is the authorization of the project. The complaint alleges that the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior approved the construction without obtaining the necessary approval from Congress. The plaintiffs want the court to overturn that administrative approval and prevent work from beginning. In a statement, the family described the action as an effort to protect sacred spaces that belong to the American people.
This lawsuit joins other legal obstacles already facing the project. On November 6, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a ruling that barred the administration from starting work for a period of 14 days. The Justice Department has indicated that the arch would not be completed before Donald Trump’s second term ends. Trump has stated that the structure would function as a military complex, including space for drones and ammunition, and customized sniper facilities on its roof and plaza.
The arch is one of several major Washington projects currently pursued by the administration. These initiatives also include a renovation of a public golf course and a threat to demolish the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. These projects may face increased scrutiny from Congress, following the recent gain of control by Democrats.
