U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes has indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from removing trees at the century-old East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., setting up a high-stakes legal showdown over executive overreach, disputed agency plans, and the future of a beloved waterfront park.
Judge Ana Reyes Blocks Tree Removal and Demands Ten Days’ Notice
A federal judge in Washington issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from removing or damaging any additional trees on the grounds of East Potomac Golf Links. The order indefinitely blocks the government from felling a single tree while the underlying lawsuit proceeds. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes also required the administration to provide written notice no less than 10 business days before any closure of the course or any irreversible modification to the park’s landforms, vegetation, or structures.
I missed the part of the Constitutional Convention that put federal judges in charge of golf course maintenance. The Left is endlessly enraged that, after allowing DC to decay for decades, the Trump Administration is making it safe, clean and beautiful. https://t.co/N9ccnAYD8c
The injunction follows an abrupt holiday weekend tree-clearing effort in October where crews cut down about 430 trees across the municipal grounds. During subsequent court hearings, Reyes questioned the government’s explanations for the sudden clearing. In her 70-page ruling, Reyes pointed to public statements and social media posts that directly contradicted sworn testimony from government employees who had maintained that no final renovation plan existed.
Rarely, if ever, has the United States Department of Justice urged a federal court not to believe the sitting President. And yet, here we are.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, via NBC News
President Trump Vows Immediate Appeal and November 15 Course Closure
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump argued that the judiciary has no constitutional right to demand advance notices for executive projects.
The judge has absolutely no right to hold up this very important and beautiful Project. We are asking the D.C. Circuit Court for immediate remedy.
President Donald Trump, via MS NOW
Trump’s posts detailed an ambitious vision to transform the property into a high-end destination. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and golf course architect Tom Fazio developed a plan to combine the park’s historic courses into a single 18-hole championship-style course capable of hosting world-class tournaments like the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. While government attorneys had previously insisted in court filings that no final agency action had occurred, Trump’s online announcements repeatedly stated that work would move forward.
Local Golfers and Environmental Advocates Mobilize to Protect Hains Point
The legal challenge was originally brought in February by the D.C. Preservation League alongside local golfers who rely on the property for affordable recreation. Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman, who represents the plaintiffs, praised the court’s intervention as a big win that will rightly protect East Potomac park from further harm while litigation continues.
🚨 WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal judge has ordered a halt to additional tree cutting at East Potomac Golf Links amid a legal battle over the Trump administration’s plans to transform the historic public golf course into a championship-level facility.U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes…
Beyond the fairways, the southern tip of the peninsula known as Hains Point serves as a vital recreational hub for Washington residents. Runners use the wide, flat perimeter road for marathon training, cyclists gather for rides organized by the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, and birders visit the waterfront oasis for its seasonal wildlife. Local designers have even sold custom apparel to raise awareness and money for the D.C. Preservation League as public concern over losing affordable access mounts.
Details of the Legal Filings and Historic Context of the Municipal Property
Court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia reveal that the plaintiffs—including the D.C. Preservation League and local golfers—alleged multiple violations of federal environmental and historic preservation statutes. Specifically, the lawsuit points to infractions under the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and the National Park Service Organic Act. Representing the Justice Department, Environment and Natural Resources Division trial attorney Michael Robertson argued that no official Washington National Plan had been formally established yet, despite public remarks from executive officials.
The 36-hole complex at East Potomac occupies a narrow strip of land situated between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel, operating as a vital public escape on a man-made island just south of the National Mall. Under the management of the National Links Trust, annual rounds at the century-old municipal course had roughly doubled from fewer than 60,000 to more than 120,000. However, in late December 2025, the Interior Department revoked the organization’s 50-year lease while 45 years remained on the agreement.
During the lengthy court proceedings, Judge Reyes questioned National Mall Superintendent Kevin Griess regarding the urgency of the tree removal. When asked if there was any pressing need to continue felling trees immediately, Griess testified that he was not aware of any such urgency. Reyes noted this exchange in her 70-page opinion, stating that roughly 300 additional trees remained slated for removal under the halted plan.
As the legal battle continues, the course remains open to the public, offering affordable rounds to retirees, students, and casual players alike. While the administration prepares its appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, local regulars continue to visit the greens, determined to use the historic property until formal closures physically bar their entry.
NEW: Judge Ana Reyes issued a preliminary injunction barring further tree removal at D.C.'s East Potomac Golf Course, finding the Trump administration likely violated federal environmental law. Reyes invoked The Lorax, saying she speaks not for the trees, but for the rule of law. pic.twitter.com/eUpP95CnZA