Veterans Seek Court Order to Halt Excavation for Trump-Backed Arch

Veterans groups suing over a planned arch monument have asked a federal judge to intervene before excavation work begins, according to NPR News.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said excavation work on the project could start within the next two weeks, NPR reported, even though the plan has not received approval from a key federal review body.

The veterans who filed the lawsuit argue that construction should not proceed without the required approval process being completed, according to the report.

NPR did not specify in the excerpt which federal commission's approval is being sought or the exact location and purpose of the arch, beyond describing it as a project associated with President Trump.

The dispute centers on whether federal agencies can begin physical construction work before a mandated oversight body has signed off on the project, a question the veterans are asking a court to resolve before ground is broken.

It was not immediately clear from available reporting when a judge might rule on the request or whether excavation would proceed in the meantime.