A federal judge has temporarily halted additional tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links after the Trump administration cut down hundreds of trees at the Washington, D.C., municipal course with minimal notice, according to court filings.
The long-running dispute over East Potomac Golf Links, which President Trump has said he wants to redevelop into a championship-level venue, intensified over the weekend when crews removed at least 430 trees. Officials had told the court late Friday that as many as 529 trees would be cleared in phases starting Saturday.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes previously ordered the administration in May to seek court approval before cutting more than 10 trees at the site. Following the weekend clearings, she convened an emergency hearing Monday and imposed a short-term pause, later extending it through Oct. 26. She warned that any violation of the order, even by seconds, could trigger contempt proceedings.
Reyes directed senior leaders at the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to appear at a hearing next Monday to explain the government’s rationale and plans for the historic course. She said her questions center on whether the court has been misled about plans, timing and notice.
The golf course has become a focal point in the administration’s broader push to reshape parts of the capital, drawing a lawsuit from the D.C. Preservation League and two residents who allege an unlawful takeover. Opponents fear East Potomac could face the same fate as other projects they say proceeded without adequate oversight unless the courts step in.
Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, one of the legal groups representing the plaintiffs, said the rapid removal fits a pattern of moving quickly to alter national landmarks. She also said the administration has undercut checks and balances by sidestepping court processes.
Trump has promoted the idea of transforming East Potomac into a championship-caliber course and announced plans earlier this year, though a Sept. 1 target start date passed without a formal proposal. The uncertainty has alarmed locals who value the affordable public course and nearby recreation areas frequented by runners, cyclists, anglers and picnickers.
In a Friday court filing, a National Park Service official said renovation concepts remain preliminary. The Interior Department said Tuesday it is committed to keeping local golf courses safe, accessible, affordable and world-class.
Critics contend the administration is using routine maintenance to begin redevelopment without required approvals. “You cannot say there is no plan while clearly taking steps to carry one out,” said Alex Rosen, a D.C. resident who founded a nonprofit to advocate for the site and who is not part of the lawsuit.
Why the rush? The court hopes for answers next week
At Monday’s hearing, Reyes said she had previously given the government the benefit of the doubt, including after roughly 150 reportedly dying or invasive trees were cut in late August. By this week, she said that confidence had evaporated, sharply criticizing the government’s last-minute notification.
In filings, National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Kevin Griess described the weekend work as addressing deferred maintenance and restoring the course’s cultural landscape, citing a 2019 National Park Service report that said decades of tree plantings had obscured views and altered the original 1920s links-style design. He said a temporary influx of 20 to 50 trained workers made the work feasible and confirmed in court that the surge was tied to the administration’s Semiquincentennial events, including an IndyCar race on the National Mall in August.
One plaintiff, Alex Dickson, argued the preservation report is being used as cover to remove trees from the course it aimed to protect. Griess said he received the go-ahead last week from Park Service Deputy Director of Operations Frank Lands, who told the court he acted on direction from Greg Wischer, deputy chief of staff to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Wischer did not join Monday’s hearing despite the judge’s request. Reyes has ordered Wischer and Jessica Bowron, the National Park Service’s acting director, to testify next Monday.
The Interior Department did not address detailed questions about the timeline and resources used for the clearing, but said the president is fulfilling a commitment to make the district safe and beautiful, pointing to park improvements and public safety efforts.
In extending the restraining order Tuesday, Reyes wrote that plaintiffs showed they would likely suffer irreparable harm without injunctive relief. She also required the government to give three business days’ written notice before making any irreparable changes at East Potomac Golf Links.
What’s next for East Potomac Golf Links
The court-ordered testimony from top Interior and Park Service officials next week is expected to clarify decision-making around the tree removal and the administration’s intentions for East Potomac Golf Links. Until then, further cutting remains on hold while the lawsuit proceeds.
