New Actor: Vietnam veterans sue to block Trump arch

Three Vietnam veterans led by 83-year-old Shaun Byrnes, joined by an architectural historian, filed suit to block construction of the 250-foot Triumphal Arch planned for Memorial Circle. They argue the project cannot proceed without an act of Congress and that the arch would sever the designed sightline between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House overlooking Arlington National Cemetery.

The administration has said it can rely on a 1925 law tied to building the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The plaintiffs counter that the measure empowered a now-defunct commission for a specific, long-completed project and does not authorize new monuments. They are seeking an expedited ruling without a full trial, and for now the administration must give at least two weeks’ notice before starting construction.

Support for the lawsuit widened as Rep. Jared Huffman filed an amicus brief backing the veterans after questioning Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at a hearing last month.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources