Hegseth and Mullin swear Trump's 250-foot arch is needed to fight enemy drones ahead of veterans' court bid to block it

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin filed sworn declarations in court Wednesday claiming that Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery would serve as a drone-detection and counter-sniper platform — a national security rationale that featured nowhere in the arch's original proposal. Arguments on whether construction, which could begin as early as 5 November, should proceed will come before Judge Tanya Chutkan on Friday.

Hegseth maintained that the arch's height gives sensors and personnel a 'significant elevation advantage', while Mullin said the Secret Service could deploy it to protect senior officials.

Vietnam War veterans Jon Gundersen, Michael Lemmon and Shaun Byrnes, who filed suit to halt the project, contend the arch 'serves his ego, not the American people' and would bring dishonour upon those interred at Arlington.

In a further setback for the administration, Vietnam Veterans of America chief Tom Burke admitted he had been given 'inaccurate information' before his organisation added its name to a legal brief backing the arch.