Obama-Appointed Foreign-Born Judge Tanya Chutkan BLOCKS Trump’s Massive 250-Foot Independence Arch Just Hours After Federal Commission Approves Project — Construction HALTED for 14 Days!
November 6, 2026

President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to transform the nation’s capital with a towering monument celebrating America’s greatness has hit another legal roadblock.
On Thursday, Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a 14-day temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from beginning construction on its proposed 250-foot Independence Arch near Arlington National Cemetery.
The ruling came just hours after the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8–4 to approve the project following a contentious nine-and-a-half-hour hearing, AP reported.
The massive monument, envisioned as a tribute to America’s independence and military veterans, would rise near Memorial Circle, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
The proposed arch would resemble the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but would stand even taller.
According to plans submitted by the administration, the structure would feature a winged Lady Liberty statue carrying a torch, observation areas, elevators, office space, and additional facilities.
The Trump administration had hoped to move forward with construction immediately following Thursday’s approval.
Instead, the project now faces at least two weeks of court-ordered delays while litigation continues.
Chutkan, appointed to the federal bench by former President Barack Obama, issued the temporary restraining order amid lawsuits filed by the District of Columbia, Virginia, three Vietnam War veterans, and an architectural historian.
The challengers contend that the administration lacks the necessary congressional authorization to construct the massive monument.
They also argue that the structure could interfere with historic views, disrupt traffic around Memorial Circle, and create environmental and public safety problems.
The Trump administration disputes those objections, maintaining that legislation dating back to 1925 provides authorization for a memorial at the location.
Administration officials have also defended the project as a tribute to America’s veterans and an important addition to the nation’s capital.
In August, The Gateway Pundit reported that twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton publicly discussed removing Trump’s planned Independence Arch and other improvements if Democrats returned to power.
During an appearance on the Pivot podcast, Clinton declared:
“We will have to take down the Arch. We will have to worry about the Reflecting Pool. I’m making a list.”
Clinton also criticized the president’s White House renovations and ballroom plans
During an October 30 hearing, Chutkan questioned the administration’s urgency in moving ahead with construction.
According to the Washington Post, the judge asked:
“What is the rush to put this arch up?”
The judge also challenged the administration’s argument that the monument would serve national security interests.
The administration has maintained that delaying construction would interfere with a high-priority federal project.
In September, The Gateway Pundit reported that Democrat Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona suggested a future Democratic president should remove Trump’s architectural additions to Washington.
Gallego attacked the proposed arch as an eyesore and argued that it would undermine the solemn character of nearby Arlington National Cemetery.
The post Obama-Appointed Foreign-Born Judge Tanya Chutkan BLOCKS Trump’s Massive 250-Foot Independence Arch Just Hours After Federal Commission Approves Project — Construction HALTED for 14 Days! appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Author: Jim Hᴏft