New order confirms judge continues to block Trump admin from cutting down trees at D.C. golf course
Tree removal barred during lawsuit
In a 70-page preliminary injunction issued Monday, Reyes barred the government from removing or damaging trees at East Potomac Golf Links while the legal challenge proceeds. She also ordered the government to give 10 days’ notice before making any irreparable modification to the course.
The publicly owned course sits beside the Potomac River. The D.C. Preservation League sued over the renovation plan, alleging the government failed to assess the project’s effects as required under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Plans and timing in dispute
President Trump has sought for months to overhaul the course, proposing a championship venue for major professional tournaments in place of what he called a dysfunctional facility. Last week, he said construction would start in November and the course would reopen in 15 months, then later said work would begin immediately.
Reyes said those public statements were difficult to reconcile with government lawyers’ argument that the case was premature because no final decision had been made. She found the preservation group likely to succeed in arguing the plans violate environmental-review requirements.
Judge rejects bias request
Reyes said she had initially been reluctant to intervene, recalling an earlier hearing where she invoked Dr. Seuss characters while discussing the government’s tree-management efforts. In the ruling, she also said she did not find credible a deputy chief of staff at the Interior Department’s description of the agency’s plan as “cleaning up” the course.
Government attorneys accused Reyes of unfairly questioning their intelligence, letting hostility toward the administration affect hearings and disregarding limits on judicial authority. Reyes rejected their request and denied being biased, citing compliments she had given government lawyers.
Key points
- The order bars tree removal or damage at East Potomac Golf Links while the lawsuit continues.
- The government must give 10 days’ notice before making an irreparable change to the course.
- Trump gave different accounts of the construction start, first saying November and later saying immediately.
- Reyes found the preservation group likely to prevail on its environmental-review claim.