Judge orders Trump administration to halt work on historic DC golf course

Key points

• Judge Ana Reyes halted tree-cutting at East Potomac golf course until 26 October.
• The National Park Service marked over 500 trees for removal.
• The government must give three business days' notice before permanent changes.

US district judge Ana Reyes on Tuesday ordered a halt to tree-cutting at the East Potomac golf course in Washington DC until 26 October. The order pauses work at the historic course, which is part of Donald Trump's plans to remake the capital city.

The ruling followed a tense three-hour hearing on Monday, where Reyes criticized the government for deceiving her with actions taken over the holiday weekend. At that hearing, she had ordered a 24-hour pause that could be extended to 14 days.

What the judge ordered

Reyes also required the government to provide the court and plaintiffs three business days' written advance notice before making any irreparable modification to any permanent form or feature of the course.

The National Park Service confirmed in a filing that it had marked over 500 trees for removal as the Trump administration considers a renovation.

must provide the court and plaintiffs three business days' written advance notice prior to making any irreparable modification to any permanent form or feature of the East Potomac golf course

— Judge Ana Reyes

Residents' concerns

Some residents fear the planned changes risk altering the character of a place that has served Washingtonians of all income levels for more than a century.

They worry that turning the park into an upscale golf course will mean costlier fees and a likely loss of public space. Trump has visited the course with a cabinet member, a well-known golf course architect and blueprints.