Federal judge temporarily blocks construction of President Trump’s D.C.-area arch

WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - Within hours of the national capital planning commission's approval of President Donald Trump's "Triumphal Arch" construction, a federal judge temporarily blocked construction from beginning.

A temporary restraining order is now in place blocking the Trump Administration from "initiating, making, or otherwise effectuating any construction, excavation" or other steps in the project for the next 14 days.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted the order early Friday morning following the approval of the massive and controversial arch project in Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia and Virginia filed the temporary restraining order and, in Judge Chutkan's opinion alongside the order, they demonstrated a likelihood of suing and an immediate harm.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) accused the president of trying to bypass legal barriers and said the arch would cause "harm to national treasures like Arlington National Cemetery"

The project was passed by the National Capital Planning Commission late Thursday night with an 8-to-4 vote, with the four opposing votes coming from commissioners not appointed by the president.

The virtual hearing and public comment lasted more than nine hours with comments related to the impact to the surrounding area and memorials.