Key facts
- Judge Ana Reyes ordered a halt to tree-cutting at the East Potomac golf course until October 26.
- The judge criticized the government for deceiving her with actions over a holiday weekend.
- The government must provide three business days' written advance notice before making irreparable modifications to the golf course.
- The Trump administration plans to remake the historic Washington DC course into a world-class golf venue.
US district judge Ana Reyes on Tuesday ordered a halt to tree-cutting at the East Potomac golf course until October 26, further pausing work on the historic Washington DC course that is part of Donald Trump’s plans to remake the capital city. Reyes issued the order after a hearing where she harshly criticized the government for deceiving her with its actions over the holiday weekend. She had initially ordered a 24-hour pause, which could be extended to 14 days, limited to one day while the government sought a Trump administration official to discuss the necessity of massive tree-cutting over the holiday weekend with little notification to plaintiffs or the court. The judge also mandated that the government must provide three business days’ written advance notice before making any irreparable modification to the golf course. Some residents fear the planned changes, which Trump has visited with a cabinet member and a golf course architect, risk altering the character of a place that has served Washingtonians of all income levels for over a century. They anticipate that turning the park into an upscale golf course will lead to costlier fees and a likely loss of public space.