A federal judge has temporarily halted tree-cutting activities at the East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., pending further legal review, deepening a dispute over the site’s redevelopment. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued the order on Tuesday, pausing work until at least October 26.

The action comes after a contentious three-hour hearing on Monday during which Judge Reyes sharply criticized the government for failing to provide timely notification about tree removal over the previous holiday weekend. During the hearing, Reyes initially imposed a 24-hour pause on cutting, which could be extended up to 14 days, while awaiting explanations from a key Trump administration official involved in the project.

In addition to the immediate halt on cutting trees, the court stipulated that the government must provide plaintiffs and the court with at least three business days’ written advance notice before making any irreversible changes to the golf course or its features.

The lawsuit challenging the tree-cutting was filed by the DC Preservation League and two local golfers. Their legal counsel, represented by Democracy Forward, welcomed the judge’s intervention, describing the weekend’s rapid tree removal as a “mad rush” to transform the public recreation area into a high-end golf destination.

The controversy centers on the National Park Service’s decision to remove hundreds of trees from the historic golf course after notifying the court just minutes before closing on October 9, during a holiday weekend. Approximately 400 trees were cut over the weekend, with plans to remove several hundred more in the near future.

East Potomac Golf Course has become a focal point of former President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to reshape parts of Washington, D.C. The proposed redevelopment is intended to transform the site into a world-class golf venue, reflecting Trump’s vision for the city, which also includes a $400 million renovation of the White House ballroom and plans to build a triumphal arch nearby.

The legal fight now will focus on whether the government adhered to proper procedures and notifications in carrying out the tree removal and how to balance development ambitions with preservation concerns. Judge Reyes’s order for a temporary halt signals heightened judicial scrutiny of the administration’s handling of the project moving forward.