Veterans Challenge Trump’s Washington Arch in Court

Shaun Byrnes and Jon Gundersen, both seasoned veterans, have stepped into the legal arena to challenge a controversial construction project in Washington D.C. These two retirees, with long careers in the military and State Department, are opposed to the installation of a 250-foot triumphal arch.

In February, Byrnes and Gundersen, alongside a Vietnam veteran and a historian, filed a lawsuit to halt the construction of the arch. The structure is planned for a traffic circle between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. They argue that the project lacks proper approval from Congress and could disrupt the symbolic sightline connecting the Lincoln Memorial and the Robert E. Lee Memorial, which reflects post-Civil War unity.

Renderings indicate the arch would surpass the height of the Lincoln Memorial, standing more than twice as tall. Byrnes and Gundersen stress that their legal battle is not politically motivated. “Loyalty to the country comes in many forms,” Gundersen stated, insisting the lawsuit seeks to maintain American values.

Byrnes, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, emphasized that the lawsuit is about honoring soldiers laid to rest at Arlington. He expressed that building the arch could force him to reconsider his own burial plans. The Justice Department aims to dismiss the lawsuit, citing lack of standing. They claim Congress authorized the project over a century ago in a plan for two columns symbolizing the North and South.

Without a formal congressional vote, challenges persist. A federal judge recently denied a request to pause the construction. Gundersen and Byrnes view the arch as a monument to former President Trump rather than a celebration of the nation’s history. Trump unveiled a model resembling the Arc de Triomphe, asserting the structure is personal.

Me, Mr. Trump replied when asked by Ed O’Keefe for whom the arch is intended.

Despite public disapproval, the U.S. Commission for Fine Arts granted approval. According to the Interior Department’s plans, the next step is an urban planning commission’s review. The project moves forward, backed by Trump allies.

Gundersen and Byrnes, both once stationed in Moscow, compare this project to authoritarian regimes where monuments glorify leaders. Gundersen criticized Trump’s notion of funding the arch with private donations, questioning whether it is appropriate for monuments to be built through oligarchic donations.

The veterans remain steadfast in their mission to defend democratic values. Gundersen affirmed, “We fought for our country. We believe in this country, and we’re committed to change.”