Judge blocks Trump administration from cutting down trees at D.C. golf course for 2 weeks
Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the Trump administration from removing trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., for another two weeks after hundreds of trees were felled at the historic public course over the weekend.
Reyes said the D.C. Preservation League and golfers will likely be harmed without relief. The plaintiffs are challenging President Trump's planned overhaul of East Potomac.
The brief order comes after the judge fiercely chastised the Justice Department during a nearly four-hour-long hearing Monday. She called the hearing after learning Friday afternoon that the National Park Service planned to remove an estimated 529 trees at East Potomac golf course as part of a "tree management and cultural landscape rehabilitation project."
The D.C. Preservation League then told the court in a filing Sunday that the crew had cut down all 529 trees on Saturday alone, including "healthy, mature oaks and maples," and had planned to remove "hundreds" more "imminently," but rain impacted the work.
For months, Reyes had reiterated to the government that it must provide advance notice to the plaintiffs and the court of plans to conduct any construction or similar activity at East Potomac, allowing her the opportunity to review that action and, if warranted, issue an order.
But the Justice Department did not submit a filing about the planned tree removals until just before 5 p.m. Friday.
The judge told Piropato and other government lawyers that they "lost credibility."
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.
DOJ investigating TV networks over suspension of press pool after Trump media ban
Trump announces Russia-Ukraine "energy ceasefire" after criticizing Zelenskyy
What Happens After Trump?: Why Tim Miller Thinks Politics Can’t Go Back
DOJ investigating TV networks over suspension of press pool after Trump media ban
Dive deeper
- Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the Trump administration from removing trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., for another two weeks after hundreds of trees were felled at the historic public course over the wee
- Reyes said the D.C. Preservation League and golfers will likely be harmed without relief. The plaintiffs are challenging President Trump's planned overhaul of East Potomac.
- The brief order comes after the judge fiercely chastised the Justice Department during a nearly four-hour-long hearing Monday. She called the hearing after learning Friday afternoon that the National Park Service planned to remove an estima
- The D.C. Preservation League then told the court in a filing Sunday that the crew had cut down all 529 trees on Saturday alone, including "healthy, mature oaks and maples," and had planned to remove "hundreds" more "imminently," but rain im
- For months, Reyes had reiterated to the government that it must provide advance notice to the plaintiffs and the court of plans to conduct any construction or similar activity at East Potomac, allowing her the opportunity to review that act