Judge Halts Tree Removals at East Potomac Golf Links, Demands Answers from Trump Administration
During a four-hour hearing on October 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes ordered a temporary halt to tree removals at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., and demanded explanations from the Trump administration regarding the removal of hundreds of trees.
The hearing revealed that 430 trees were felled in a single day, October 10, despite prior notices indicating only 169 trees would be removed initially, with an additional 90 planned. The total removals were expected to reach 529, according to government filings.
Judge Reyes criticized the Justice Department and the National Park Service, stating that their actions had compromised the government's credibility. She ordered that no further tree-cutting activities occur until at least 2 p.m. on Tuesday, with a potential for extension.
The judge also instructed that Justice Department lawyers provide three business days' notice before any further actions at the golf course. Additionally, Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, was ordered to testify under oath about the decision-making process.
Government representatives argued that the tree removal was part of a management and rehabilitation plan approved on October 6, following a 2019 Cultural Landscape Report. Preservation groups, however, claimed the removals were executed under false pretenses, violating the National Historic Preservation Act.