Judge orders 10-day notice before Trump admin alters D.C. golf course

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction on Monday that stops the Trump administration from removing or damaging trees at East Potomac Golf Links. The order requires the government to provide 10 days' notice before making any irreversible changes to the course while a lawsuit challenges the planned renovation.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes wrote in her 70-page ruling that the court is not speaking for the trees but for the rule of law. She rejected the government's argument that it was too early to challenge the plans because no final decision had been made. Reyes noted that the administration had already felled more than 430 trees, contradicting the position that the project was in its preliminary stages.

The ruling mandates that the government must wait 10 days before executing any irreparable modification to the golf course. This requirement stems from the judge's finding that the administration failed to provide sufficient notice for its initial tree removal. Reyes stated that the government acted with little warning, giving notice at 4:55 p.m. on the Friday of a holiday weekend that tree removal would begin within 15 hours.

President Trump reacted to the decision on Truth Social, calling the ruling unconstitutional and promising to appeal. He criticized the need to notify a judge who lacks expertise in golf, architecture, or construction. The president argued that the project is legally permitted as of right and stated that the government would proceed with closing the course on Nov. 15.

The legal dispute originated with the D.C. Preservation League, which sued the administration for violating the National Environmental Policy Act. The league argued that the government failed to analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed overhaul. Reyes found that the league is likely to succeed in showing that the plans violate the requirement for an environmental review. She also determined that the recent tree removals were part of the renovation plan, not a separate maintenance effort.

Reyes expressed frustration with the administration's conduct, noting that she was furious and thoroughly unamused after learning of the mass felling of trees. She stated that the government had lost credibility by doing what it assured the court it would not do. The judge said she was initially reluctant to intervene, preferring not to resolve what she described as a Lorax versus Once-ler scenario, but acted because of the administration's actions.

The administration had previously asked Reyes to recuse herself from the case, citing open hostility and a lack of impartiality. Government attorneys argued that the judge had questioned the intelligence of administration lawyers and disregarded separation of powers principles. Reyes denied the request, stating that her bias was not sudden but resulted from the government's decision to remove over 500 healthy, non-invasive trees. She listed compliments she had paid to government lawyers to counter the claim of inherent bias.

Trump has described the current course as dysfunctional and is pitching a World Class Championship Golf Course capable of hosting professional tournaments. He previously announced that the course would close for construction in November and reopen in 15 months, though he later said work would begin immediately. The course sits beside the Potomac River and is publicly owned. The Justice Department and the Department of Interior were reached for comment on Monday's ruling.