WASHINGTON — Nine members of the Kennedy family have joined a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, asking a judge to halt plans for a massive triumphal arch near the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery, according to court documents and reports from The Guardian and BBC News.
The legal filing argues that the proposed 250-foot gilded arch, designed in the style of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, would overshadow and fundamentally alter the solemn character of the cemetery. Relatives buried at the site include former President John F. Kennedy, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Ethel Kennedy, and long-serving U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
Dispute Over Sacred Sightlines
The Kennedy relatives joined an ongoing action initiated jointly by the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Conservationists and veterans groups have filed additional lawsuits seeking to prevent the monument from moving forward.
In their filing, the plaintiffs argued that the monument would permanently degrade the gravesites and interfere with historic views. Specifically, the complaint notes that the structure would obstruct the direct line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, which organizers originally aligned to symbolize national reconciliation following the Civil War.
“A towering arch casting shadows across the graves of our father, mother, and uncles, as well as the graves of so many who have served our country, would also cast a shadow over our democratic principles,” Rory Kennedy and Maxwell Kennedy said in a joint statement released on behalf of the family.
The plaintiffs also contend that the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service approved the development without obtaining proper authorization from Congress, violating federal preservation statutes.
A Divided Family and Federal Review
The family members pursuing the lawsuit include seven children of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, their grandson and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, and Edward Kennedy Jr. The legal challenge notably does not include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves in President Donald Trump’s cabinet as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, BBC News reported.
The project received an endorsement from the National Capital Planning Commission last week. However, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued an order on Nov. 6 placing a 14-day hold on any groundbreaking activities while legal challenges move forward through the court system.
Trump has defended the initiative, asserting that the arch would function as a top-grade military complex outfitted with facilities for drone storage, ammunition reserves, and rooftop sniper positions, The Guardian reported.
What Happens Next
The U.S. Department of Justice recently stated that construction of the arch would extend past the conclusion of Trump’s second presidential term. Meanwhile, the temporary restraining order paused preliminary construction activity through late November as federal courts weigh the competing motions.
The broader agenda of federal construction initiatives in the nation’s capital may also encounter new resistance on Capitol Hill after Democrats recently won control of Congress.
