A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Tuesday to stop the Trump administration from cutting down more trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. The ruling followed the removal of more than 400 trees over a single weekend. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes extended the order through Oct. 26 and warned that any violation could lead to contempt proceedings.
The legal dispute involves a plan by the administration to redevelop the municipal course into a championship-level facility. While the administration previously indicated a target start date of Sept. 1, officials stated in court filings on Friday that renovation plans remain in the conceptual stage. The D.C. Preservation League and two residents filed a lawsuit in February, alleging that the redevelopment constitutes an unlawful takeover of the historic site.
Court records show that Judge Reyes had ordered the government in May to obtain court approval before removing more than 10 trees. On Friday, officials notified the court at 5 p.m. of a plan to remove up to 529 trees. By the end of Saturday, at least 430 trees had been razed. The Department of the Interior stated the work is part of a commitment to make D.C. "safe and beautiful," while National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Kevin Griess described the clearing as deferred maintenance intended to restore the course's original 1920s design.
Judge Reyes expressed concern during a four-hour emergency hearing regarding the timing of the notice and the accuracy of prior government declarations. She ordered Greg Wischer, deputy chief of staff to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Jessica Bowron, acting director of the National Park Service (NPS), to testify at a hearing on Monday, Oct. 19. The judge stated the testimony is necessary to determine if the court received accurate information about the administration's plans and timeline.
The scale of the project involves the potential transformation of a historic public landmark. While the Interior Department stated it aims to keep the course "safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable, accessible, and world-class," opponents argue the administration is using routine maintenance as a pretext for unauthorized redevelopment. The National Park Service attributed the sudden surge in tree-clearing activity to a temporary availability of 20 to 50 personnel who were in the area for 250th anniversary events, including an IndyCar race held in August.
The case sets a precedent for how much authority the executive branch has to unilaterally modify historic federal lands in the District of Columbia when those actions are under judicial review. The judge has now mandated that the government provide three business days' written notice before making any "irreparable modification" to the golf course. The next step is a hearing on Oct. 19, where high-level Interior and NPS officials must explain the administration's motivations and the specific resources used for the clearing. The current restraining order remains in effect until Oct. 26.