USAupdated 34m ago3 min read
Judge Ana Reyes Bars Trump Administration From Cutting More Trees at East Potomac Golf Course
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Judge Ana Reyes blocks further tree removals at East Potomac Golf Course through Oct. 26. Hundreds of trees were felled, including about 430 in one weekend.
Trees, Orders, and a Hold
A federal judge barred the Trump administration from removing more trees at Washington's East Potomac Golf Course until at least Oct. 26, after the National Park Service felled more than 400 trees at the public course over the weekend.
D.C. District Judge Ana Reyes erupted at Trump administration attorneys on Monday after they told her that more than 400 trees had been felled at the Washington D.C. public course that President Donald Trump wants to turn into one that can host professional tournaments.
Reyes said she wanted clarity on who specifically gave the orders to remove the trees on Saturday and whether it was a deliberate effort to evade her previous orders issued in the case as litigation remains ongoing.
A Justice Department attorney, Marissa Piropato, admitted to the court in Monday's hearing that 430 trees were cleared over weekend, and Reyes responded, "430 trees!"
Reyes also ordered written briefs from both the D.C. Preservation League, which is suing the government to stop the project, and the government over whether she should grant a more extensive preliminary injunction that would block the administration from making further renovations to the course as litigation plays out.
Credibility and Courtroom Clash
Reyes told Justice Department attorney Marissa Piropato that the government had lost credibility, and she said, "You did not do your best! You did your absolute worst!"
The Justice Department lawyer said, "You did our best in providing notice," but Reyes interrupted with, "You did not do your best! You did your absolute worst!" during the nearly four-hour hearing.
Reyes ordered Kevin Griess, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, and Frank Lands, deputy director of operations for the National Park Service, to testify about what led to the felling of the 430 trees and who gave the go-ahead for the removals to take place Saturday.
The D.C. Preservation League and two residents told the court that the administration tried to avoid the law in its rush toward converting a public recreation space, and they said, "today's order will stop them from doing further irreparable harm to a precious public resource."
Reyes scheduled another hearing for Oct. 19 and ordered Jessica Bowron, acting director of the National Park Service, and Gregory Wischer, deputy chief of staff at the Interior Department, to appear.
What Comes Next for East Potomac
The court fight centers on President Donald Trump's planned overhaul of East Potomac, with the D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers challenging the effort to convert the historic public course.
NPR reported that Reyes had ordered the administration in May to get court approval before cutting down more than 10 trees at the golf course, and she extended the short-term stop through Oct. 26.
Reyes warned Monday that "if that order is violated by two seconds, there are going to be contempt proceedings," as she pressed for answers about whether she had been lied to about plans and timing.
NPR also reported that the Interior Department told NPR in a statement on Tuesday it is "committed to continuing the relationships we have built with the local golf communities" to keep courses "safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable, accessible, and world-class."
The dispute also hinges on the notice timeline, with the government providing notice to plaintiffs at 4:55 p.m. last Friday and the National Park Service beginning cutting down trees on Saturday, prompting the D.C. Preservation League to file for a temporary restraining order on Sunday.