Nine members of the Kennedy family have filed a motion to intervene in the federal lawsuits seeking to block construction of President Donald Trump's 76-metre 'triumphal arch' in Washington, DC, arguing the structure would fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the family's gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery.
Filed on Tuesday by veteran Washington lawyer Norm Eisen and the Democracy Defenders Fund, the motion contends the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior authorised the project, dubbed the 'Arc de Trump' by critics, without required congressional approval.
The arch is part of a broader push by President Trump to remodel the US capital, which also includes a historic golf course renovation and threats to demolish the Kennedy Center. The project has already drawn legal challenges from the governments of the District of Columbia, Virginia and Arlington County, as well as Vietnam War veterans and a historian. Last week, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan prohibited the administration from breaking ground on the structure for another 14 days.
The nine plaintiffs, children and grandchildren of the late Senators Robert F Kennedy and Edward M Kennedy, argue the arch would 'fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites' and would destroy the intentionally designed, century-old line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial and the cemetery's Arlington House. In the filing, lawyers wrote the structure would be a 'permanent denigration' of the gravesites, and that the Kennedys 'would never again be able to appreciate both sites as they always have before, and as the Kennedy family always intended'.
Speaking for the family, Rory and Maxwell Kennedy, children of the late Senator Robert F Kennedy, said the action is about 'protecting sacred spaces that belong to the American people', noting that several of their slain family members are 'among the more than 400,000 veterans and family members buried or honored on this hallowed ground'. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., a Trump appointee estranged from much of his family, did not join the litigation. With Democrats having seized control of Congress in the recent midterm elections, the arch project and the president's wider renovation plans may face heightened scrutiny.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The involvement of the Kennedy family injects powerful national symbolism into an already contentious legal battle over the use of federal land near Arlington National Cemetery.
- The 14-day freeze imposed by Judge Tanya Chutkan sets up a critical deadline for a project that is a cornerstone of President Trump's physical legacy in the nation's capital.
- The Democratic takeover of Congress in the midterms could fundamentally shift the political calculus and oversight facing the Trump administration's Washington remodelling plans.
Background
President Trump's plan to build a 76-metre triumphal arch on federal land in Washington, DC, has been a deeply polarising issue since it was first proposed. The project requires cooperation between the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and local DC authorities, and has faced a range of legal challenges from historians, veterans and local governments. The midterm elections handed control of Congress to Democrats, raising the prospect of legislative scrutiny.
What to Watch
- Whether Judge Chutkan extends or lifts the 14-day construction freeze in light of the new arguments from the Kennedy family.
- How the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress approaches the arch project and the administration's broader Washington building agenda.
- Whether any other Kennedy family members, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., publicly comment on the litigation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Kennedy family filed a motion to join lawsuits seeking to block Trump's Washington, DC, arch.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “On Tuesday, the nine plaintiffs, children and grandchildren of former Senators Robert F Kennedy and Edward M Kennedy, filed a motion to intervene and an accompanying complaint in two existing federal lawsuits to block the arch’s construction.”
- SupportedNine descendants of Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy argue the arch would fundamentally alter the experience of visiting their family's gravesites.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Plaintiffs argued the proposed arch would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites”, a site that draws millions of visitors each year.”
- SupportedThe arch is 76 metres tall.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Members of the prominent Kennedy family have filed a legal motion to halt the construction of US President Donald Trump’s 76-metre (250ft) “ triumphal arch ” in Washington, DC”
- SupportedThe plaintiffs said the arch would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Plaintiffs argued the proposed arch would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites””
- SupportedThe motion was filed on Tuesday by Norm Eisen and the Democracy Defenders Fund.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The intervention motion was filed by veteran Washington lawyer Norm Eisen and Democracy Defenders Fund, a centre-left legal advocacy group.”
- SupportedThe motion contends that the National Park Service and Department of the Interior authorised the project without required congressional approval.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “It contends that the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior authorised the granite, gold-ornamented structure, dubbed the “Arc de Trump” by critics, without required congressional approval.”
- SupportedThe plaintiffs argue the arch would destroy the intentionally designed, century-old line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The plaintiffs also argue the megastructure would destroy the intentionally designed, century-old line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial and the cemetery’s Arlington House across the Memorial Bridge.”
- SupportedThe lawyers described the arch as a “permanent denigration” of the gravesites.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Building the arch would be a “permanent denigration” of the gravesites”
- SupportedThe lawyers wrote that the Kennedys “would never again be able to appreciate both sites as they always have before, and as the Kennedy family always intended”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “the Kennedy offspring “would never again be able to appreciate both sites as they always have before, and as the Kennedy family always intended”, lawyers for the relatives wrote on Tuesday.”
- SupportedRory and Maxwell Kennedy said the action is about “protecting sacred spaces that belong to the American people”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Speaking on behalf of the Kennedy family, Rory and Maxwell Kennedy, children of the late senator Robert F Kennedy, said the action is about “protecting sacred spaces that belong to the American people”.”
- SupportedRory and Maxwell Kennedy said several slain family members are among more than 400,000 veterans and family members buried or honored at the site.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “They said several members of their slain family are “among the more than 400,000 veterans and family members buried or honored on this hallowed ground”.”
- SupportedLast week, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan prohibited the administration from breaking ground on the arch for another 14 days.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Last week, District Judge Tanya Chutkan prohibited the Trump administration from breaking ground on the structure for another 14 days following the string of lawsuits.”