Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Attorney General
Jay Jones
Attorney General
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Richmond, Virginia 23219
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For media inquiries only, contact:
Rae Pickett
RPickett@oag.state.va.us
Jones, Spanberger Release Statements After Judge Orders Halt in Construction of Trump’s Illegal Arch
U.S. District Court for Washington, DC issues Temporary Restraining Order on Construction
RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and Washington, DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb secured a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the U.S. District Court for Washington, DC just before midnight on November 5, 2026, halting construction of Donald Trump’s illegal vanity project, hours after the project was approved by Trump’s National Capital Planning Commission. For the next fourteen days, this order prohibits the federal government from “initiating, making, or otherwise effectuating any construction, excavation, demolition, land-disturbance, utility installation, or roadway-closure activity, or any other construction-related activity at or near Memorial Circle in Washington, DC, that is for the purpose of constructing an arch at Memorial Circle.”
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger released the following statements:
“The court’s decision to halt construction is a testament to the serious legal concerns Virginia has raised, and we will fight until this illegal vanity project is permanently stopped. Our Commonwealth takes immense pride in being home to Arlington National Cemetery, where heroes from every corner of our union rest after giving their lives in service to our nation. President Trump’s illegal and grotesque vanity project is an affront to this hallowed ground and the sacrifices in the name of democracy it represents. Virginia has an undeniable interest in preserving the historic integrity and dignity of this sacred place, and we will fight relentlessly in court to ensure this project never becomes a reality,” said Attorney General Jay Jones.
“This ruling affirms that President Trump's latest vanity project is blatantly illegal. The President's 250-foot triumphal arch would quite literally overshadow the graves of the fallen heroes laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery — a sacred place that honors the generations of Americans who answered the call to serve. This hallowed ground must be forever protected and preserved to honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service to our nation," said Governor Abigail Spanberger.
Read the full Temporary Restraining Order here.
Published on: November 6, 2026
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