Hegseth and Mullin tell court Trump's 250-foot arch near Arlington Cemetery would be a base for snipers and drone defence

Hegseth and Mullin filed sworn court declarations on Wednesday arguing the proposed 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery is a "generational national defense opportunity," not merely a vanity monument. The shift in justification is stark: national security was never mentioned in the original proposal or any design submitted to review boards. A federal court hearing before Judge Tanya Chutkan is scheduled for Friday, with construction potentially starting as soon as November 5.

The arch's height would give snipers and counter-drone sensors "enhanced lines of sight," Hegseth told the court, with no structural changes needed to the existing design.

Vietnam War veterans Jon Gundersen, Michael Lemmon and Shaun Byrnes are suing to stop it, calling the arch illegal and saying it "serves his ego, not the American people."

The National Capital Planning Commission — now stacked with Trump allies — is set to vote on the project on November 5, with above-ground construction planned for May 2027 and completion not expected until 2030.