Federal Judge Halts Tree Removal at D.C. Golf Course After 430 Felled

Oct 12, 10:52 PM2 min readCovered by 4 outlets

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A federal judge blocked further tree clearing at East Potomac Golf Links after the government cut down 430 trees over a holiday weekend without what she called proper notice.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued an emergency order Monday to stop further tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links after the Trump administration cut down over 400 trees with minimal notice.

Judge Reyes rebuked Justice Department attorneys during a heated hearing on Monday, stating the government had lost its credibility. According to NBC News and CBS News, the judge was furious that the administration proceeded with the removals over the weekend despite previous assurances that she would receive ample warning before any irreversible actions were taken.

The Justice Department provided notice of the work in a court filing just before 5 p.m. on Friday, the start of a three-day holiday weekend. Removal began the next morning, and government lawyers confirmed that approximately 430 trees had already been cut down. Fox News reported that the judge was described as screaming at attorneys, telling them they had done their "absolute worst" to notify the court.

During the proceedings, National Park Service officials testified about the rapid timeline of the project. Deputy Director for Operations Frank Lands stated the plan was organized within a week and that he was directed to begin by Greg Wischer, a deputy chief of staff to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. While the administration argued the removals were part of a 2019 landscape restoration plan, The Guardian noted that plaintiffs fear the work is tied to President Trump's vision to transform the public site into a world-class venue.

The temporary restraining order bars the removal of any additional trees, including for routine maintenance, until at least Tuesday afternoon. Judge Reyes has ordered several officials to testify under oath and required the government to provide three days' notice for any future actions at the site. The judge remarked that the removal of hundreds of trees is permanent and likely to cause irreparable harm.

Background

The DC Preservation League filed a lawsuit to challenge a renovation plan for the East Potomac Golf Links, which President Trump has expressed a desire to turn into a championship-caliber course. The historic public facility has traditionally served Washingtonians of all income levels for over a century.