Federal Judge Halts Tree Removals at East Potomac Golf Links

On Tuesday, a federal judge temporarily stopped the Trump administration from cutting more trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. This decision follows the removal of hundreds of trees over the previous weekend.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ruled that the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service must halt any further tree cutting at East Potomac until October 26. The administration is required to give a three-business-days notice to the court and the plaintiffs before making any significant changes to the course.

The plaintiffs, the D.C. Preservation League, and two local golfers argue that they would suffer harm without the judge’s intervention. They oppose President Trump’s planned changes to East Potomac.

The order was issued after a lengthy hearing where Judge Reyes criticized the Justice Department. The hearing followed reports that the National Park Service intended to remove 529 trees as part of a project at the golf course.

According to the D.C. Preservation League, all 529 trees were cut down on a single day, including healthy oaks and maples. The government planned to remove additional trees, but rain delayed the work. Marissa Piropato, a lawyer for the Justice Department, stated that 430 trees have been felled, with another 99 marked for removal.

Judge Reyes emphasized the need for advance notification for any actions at East Potomac, reminding the government of their obligation to inform both the court and the plaintiffs. The Justice Department failed to notify about the removals until late Friday.

“You did not do your best. You did your absolute worst,” Judge Reyes admonished Piropato regarding the lack of notification.

The judge also ordered testimony from Kevin Griess and Frank Lands, who are responsible for operations at the course, about the recent tree removals. The court scheduled another hearing on October 19, requiring the presence of Jessica Bowron and Gregory Wischer from the National Park Service and the Interior Department.