Judge Ana Reyes orders one‑day halt to Trump‑led tree cutting at historic D.C. golf course

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a 24‑hour order on Oct. 12, 2026 halting tree‑cutting at the East Potomac Golf Course, a historic public course in Washington, D.C., after the Trump administration directed the National Park Service to remove more than 500 trees.

The injunction temporarily stops all construction and maintenance work on the site, signaling strong judicial oversight of federal actions that affect historic public lands. The order came after a tense three‑hour hearing in which Judge Reyes accused the government of misleading the court about the timing and scope of the tree‑cutting over the holiday weekend.

President Donald Trump has long included the aging course in plans to remodel the city, and the recent directive to fell trees was part of that broader vision. The court’s intervention underscores the legal requirement for agencies to comply with preservation statutes and to provide adequate notice to stakeholders.

Judge Reyes indicated that the 24‑hour halt could be extended to as many as 14 days if necessary, a provision cited by the Associated Press. Following the initial order, the court extended the pause on Oct. 13, giving the administration until Oct. 26 to locate a senior official who can explain why the massive tree‑cutting proceeded without proper notification to plaintiffs who had filed a lawsuit to stop the renovation.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that the project proceeded with minimal notice, violating procedural rules that protect historic sites. The administration, meanwhile, has not yet provided the requested official, leaving the pause in effect while the court seeks clarification.

Compliance with the order is now mandatory, and any further work at East Potomac must await clarification from the federal government. The next hearing is set for later in October, where Judge Reyes will determine whether an extended injunction is warranted.