Judge extends order blocking Trump administration from clearing trees at DC golf course: news

Federal Judge Extends Order Halting Tree Removal at Historic East Potomac Golf Course in D.C.

A federal judge has extended a court order barring the Trump administration from cutting down additional trees at Washington, D.C.’s historic East Potomac Golf Links through October 26, 2026.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued the decision following emergency proceedings, placing a temporary freeze on ongoing site modifications tied to the administration’s proposed overhaul of the municipal golf property. The extended injunction follows an initial 24-hour halt granted after government contractors began cutting down hundreds of mature trees over a holiday weekend without sufficient prior notice to the court or preservationist plaintiffs.

Under the terms of the updated ruling, federal authorities are strictly prohibited from removing additional trees and must provide both the court and plaintiffs with at least three business days of advance written notice before initiating any permanent or irreversible alterations to the golf course layout. The legal dispute centers on environmental compliance, public land stewardship, and historic preservation standards governing the National Park Service facility.