An Angry Federal Judge Overseeing Llitigation Challenging Trump’s (R) Plan to Overhaul a Washington, D.C., Public Golf Course, said they Violated Her Instructions, by Cutting Down Hundreds of Trees around East Potomac Golf Links, on Short Notice over the Weekend. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, who had previously Warned the Administration Not to take Irreversible Steps on the Project without telling Her, on 10/12/2026 Temporarily Barred further Tree Removal, and Warned the Government that She would Initiate Contempt Proceedings for the Slightest Violation.
She also Demanded to Hear from Three Interior Department Officials under Oath, about Plans the Government made for the Removals in the days before it told the Court about them late 10/9/2016. Workers began taking down Trees 10/10/2026 Morning, and Reyes Yelled at the Suggestion from a Justice Department (DOJ) Lawyer that as many as 430 Trees had been Rremoved.
“I have given the government every single benefit of the doubt that it would not do what it has done,” the Biden (D) Appointed Judge said during the Three Hhour Hearing. “What has happened has cost the government all of its credibility” in the Case, She said. By the End of the Hearing, Reyes Qquestioned “whether or not I’ve been lied to.”
DOJ Lawyer Marissa Piropato said the Tree Removal was part of a Longstanding Maintenance Pplan and was Unconnected to any Golf Course Project. “This is not a renovation, your honor,” She said.
The East Potomac Facility has been Open for more than a Ccentury, Offering the Ppublic Affordable Green Fees in a Picturesque Setting close to Washington’s famous Monuments. Trump has described the Facility as Run-Down and Talked for Months about Redeveloping it, with an Eeye toward Creating a Course that could Host Major Golf Tournaments. He previously said the Renovation would begin in 9/2026. In Court Papers filed over the Weekend, the Administration said the Project “remains at an early and conceptual stage".
The DC Preservation League Sued earlier this year, raising Several Legal Arguments, including that the Project raised Environmental concerns and Exceeded the President’s Authority. The Administration said its Actions were Legally Compliant and Argued the Llawsuit was Premature Trump has Raced through Several Projects in the Nation’s Capital, including the Building of a White House Bballroom. Courts have Struggled to keep up.
Reyes in Previous Hearings expressed Concern that the Trump Administration could move Quickly on the Golf CourseRrenovation and then tell Her it was Too Late to “stop the trains.” The Judge during those Hearings said the Government needed to Inform Her before taking Major Actions On 10/2/2026, Reyes sought Testimony about the Chronology of what happened. First up was Kevin Griess, Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, who said He had been told about the Ttree Rremoval from a Deputy Director at the National Park Service, Frank Lands The Judge then called Lands to Appear.
The Two Men described the Removal as part of a Seven-year-Old Pplan to Renovate National Park Service Sites and said the Speed of the Weekend Tree Work wasn’t Unusual. When Lands cited a Third Interior Department Employee, the Judge said She needed to Hear from that Person, too.
The DOJ said Officials tried but couldn’t Reach Him on what was a Federal Holiday. The Proceedings are Scheduled to Continue 10/13/2026.
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