Judge Halts Tree Removal at Trump Golf Course in Washington

A federal judge on Monday, October 12, 2026, temporarily halted further tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, DC, after the Trump administration cut down hundreds of trees without providing adequate advance notice to the court and preservationists. US District Judge Ana Reyes ordered the suspension while examining whether officials had complied with earlier assurances during litigation over President Donald Trump's proposed golf course renovation. According to NBC News, approximately 430 trees were removed beginning Saturday, October 10, following notification filed late Friday afternoon before a three-day holiday weekend.

The National Park Service had identified as many as 529 trees for removal, according to a sworn declaration cited in court filings. Reyes issued an emergency order prohibiting additional tree removal until at least 7 a.m. Tuesday, October 13, unless the court ordered otherwise.

She also directed Interior Department official Greg Wischer to testify about the decision-making process and required officials to preserve relevant records.

The dispute centers on whether the tree-clearing operation was routine landscape restoration or part of the broader renovation Trump has proposed for the historic public golf course. The DC Preservation League, which sued earlier this year, argues that the administration must follow applicable legal and preservation requirements before undertaking substantial changes.

During Monday's hearing, Reyes challenged Justice Department attorney Marissa Piropato over the timing of the government's notification and its failure to provide the court and plaintiffs with sufficient warning. Piropato said officials had attempted to notify the relevant parties before work began. Reyes rejected that explanation and emphasized that government lawyers had previously assured her they would provide advance notice before taking irreversible action. She said the handling of the operation had undermined the government's credibility in the case.

National Park Service Deputy Director for Operations Frank Lands testified that he learned about the plan on October 5 and had been instructed by Wischer, the deputy chief of staff for policy to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, to proceed with implementation. Lands acknowledged that the plan had come together quickly and said he was proud of the agency's ability to move rapidly. National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Kevin Griess testified that approximately 300 additional trees had been identified for removal. He cited a 2019 Cultural Landscape Report as the basis for the agency's restoration rationale, which the administration maintains is separate from Trump's proposed redesign.

In a court filing, the National Park Service had stated that significant rehabilitation work would not begin until applicable compliance requirements were satisfied. Reyes questioned how that assurance aligned with the rapid removal operation and the limited notice given to the plaintiffs. The DC Preservation League has argued that the tree clearing could advance Trump's renovation plans before the court can fully review the legal issues.

The administration, by contrast, maintains that the work implements landscape-restoration recommendations developed years before the president's current proposal. Trump outlined his ambitions for the site in a June post on Truth Social, describing the existing course as outdated and in poor condition. He said renovation work would begin September 1 and expressed a goal of turning the facility into a championship-caliber course.

The legal dispute follows other changes to federal property under the administration, including the demolition of the White House's East Wing in 2025. Debris from that project was subsequently deposited at the golf course and used as landfill, according to NBC News.

The court's intervention also drew a public response from White House adviser Stephen Miller, who questioned the judiciary's role in golf course maintenance in a post on X. Reyes, meanwhile, ordered Wischer to appear on Tuesday, October 13, while keeping the temporary restriction on further tree removal in effect.