Retired military officers and a historian have filed a lawsuit to halt the construction of a 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery, arguing the project lacks proper congressional approval and disrupts a historic sightline. The plaintiffs, including Vietnam veterans Shaun Byrnes and Jon Gundersen, claim the arch would interfere with the symbolic connection between the Lincoln Memorial and the Robert E. Lee Memorial, a deliberate alignment meant to represent post-Civil War unity. The Justice Department has moved to dismiss the lawsuit, asserting the plaintiffs lack standing to challenge the project.
Byrnes, a Navy veteran who served two tours in Vietnam, stated his opposition stems from respect for fallen soldiers buried in Arlington. He expressed concern that the arch would be disrespectful to those interred there and said he might reconsider his own burial plans if the project proceeds. Gundersen, a retired Army Special Forces officer, framed the lawsuit as an act of loyalty to the country, emphasizing that their challenge is not partisan.
The arch, proposed by the Trump administration, would be more than double the height of the Lincoln Memorial. Critics argue the project has been rushed, while supporters have not publicly articulated their position in the available reporting. The lawsuit, led by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, remains pending in court.