Federal Judge Blocks Tree Removal at D.C. Golf Course, Citing 430 Felled Trees

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a 70-page preliminary injunction on Monday that stops the Trump administration from removing or damaging any trees at East Potomac Golf Links. The order requires the government to provide 10 days' notice before making any irreparable changes to the course. This ruling pauses the construction phase of a major renovation that President Donald Trump has sought to implement for months.

The legal battle centers on a conflict between the executive branch's plan for a "World Class Championship Golf Course" and the environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The D.C. Preservation League filed the lawsuit, arguing the government failed to analyze the project's environmental impacts before beginning work. Reyes found the league likely to succeed in proving the administration violated this legal requirement.

The judge's decision follows a week of intense friction over the pace of construction. Reyes noted that the government removed nearly 430 trees in a single day during a holiday weekend, despite giving notice at 4:55 p.m. on a Friday. She rejected the administration's claim that the tree removal was merely routine maintenance, ruling instead that it was a component of the broader renovation plan. The ruling specifically cited the administration's failure to meet its own assurances regarding the timing of tree removals.

President Trump responded to the ruling on Truth Social, labeling the decision "unconstitutional" and stating his administration would appeal. He argued that requiring advanced notice from a judge without expertise in golf or construction is unfair. Trump maintained that the government will proceed with closing the course on Nov. 15, a date he previously identified as the start of construction.

In the text of the ruling, Reyes addressed the discrepancy between the president's public statements and the legal arguments made by the Department of Justice. The Justice Department had argued it was too early to challenge the plans because no final decision had been made. Reyes wrote that it is rare for the Department of Justice to ask a court not to believe the sitting president. She stated that the government's actions forced the court to reconcile sworn testimony from employees with the president's public claims.

The judge also addressed a request for her to recuse herself, which the administration filed earlier this month. Government attorneys argued she showed "open hostility" and a lack of impartiality. Reyes denied the request, pointing to specific compliments she had given to government lawyers. She noted that the government's actions, rather than her rulings, triggered the need for judicial intervention.

The administration had previously said the course would reopen in 15 months, though Trump later indicated work would begin immediately. The current order keeps the status quo in place while the lawsuit moves through the court system. Reyes emphasized that her role is to apply the rule of law, a distinction she made explicit in her ruling.