US judge temporarily blocks Trump’s Washington arch

A US judge has issued a temporary block on construction of a proposed 250-foot arch in Washington. The decision came after the National Capital Planning Commission voted 8-4 to approve the project. Around 100 opponents, including Democratic lawmakers, had expressed concerns about the plan. The judge's order will be in effect for 14 days.

The Trump administration claims that Congress approved the arch over 100 years ago, but critics argue that this is a stretch. The project is expected to take around three years to complete and will cause significant disruptions to traffic and noise. The Justice Department had anticipated that construction could begin as soon as Thursday.

The arch is one of several costly projects being pushed by Trump in Washington, despite opposition from local officials and conservationists. The project has faced significant opposition in the courts, with the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia suing to halt construction. The arch would be situated near Arlington National Cemetery and would include an eternal flame and floodlights.