Washington DC - A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's massive triumphal arch project on Thursday, casting doubt over the future of the project mere hours after it was green-lit by a public commission.
District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled that the Trump administration cannot start construction on the arch for two weeks while the court considers challenges to its legality.
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) had voted 8-4 to approve the project earlier on Thursday, despite hearing hours of testimony from dozens of furious opponents who questioned the arch's legality and purpose.
Chief among the complaints was the location of the 250-foot tall structure: Adjacent to the hallowed Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of American service members.
The giant arch would be significantly taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, its inspiration, and would tower over the Lincoln Memorial.
The four dissenting commissioners had called for the decision to be delayed, noting there were legal concerns, a lack of congressional appropriation to fund the project, and raising questions about claims that the arch will be used for military purposes.
The majority on the panel, however, which is controlled by Trump allies, voted against a delay.
Chutkan's ruling sided with several veterans and the attorneys general of Washington and Virginia, who had sued seeking to halt construction.
More than 100 people, often speaking as representatives of organizations, expressed their opposition. The remarks were spearheaded by Congressman Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee.
"This arch would dishonor America, our ideals, and our laws," he said.
"I urge all officials and firms involved with this illegal project to consider the legal hazards they may be facing by advancing it," he said.