“The arch is a generational national defense opportunity to mitigate these evolving threats,” Hegseth wrote in his declaration.
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), a federal review panel, is scheduled to consider final approval of the arch’s site and building plans on Nov. 5. The commission includes several Trump appointees, and its chairman has said he plans to support the project, according to the Washington Post.
Interior must also issue its final authorization and publish the required notice. The Administration has told the court that those steps could be completed on Nov. 5, as well, allowing construction to begin that same day.
The Justice Department told the court on Friday that construction could begin immediately once those steps were complete.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, however, seemed skeptical of the rush.
“What’s the harm to the government to wait 3 or 4 months? What’s the rush to put this arch up?” the judge asked at the hearing for Lemmon v. Trump on Friday.
