A federal judge has temporarily halted the removal of hundreds of trees at the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., amid a legal battle over the course’s redevelopment. The controversy centers on plans supported by former President Donald Trump to renovate the golf course, part of a broader initiative to reshape the area.
The National Park Service (NPS) had budgeted $1.2 million for the tree removal project, which was funded by visitor fees collected from major national parks such as Yellowstone and Yosemite. More than 400 trees were cut down over a single weekend earlier this month before U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes issued a preliminary injunction stopping further tree removal.
Officials with the Interior Department described the work as part of a longstanding plan to manage “tree overgrowth” at the course, aligned with Trump’s “D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative. They stated that the funds used were appropriately allocated for the project. However, environmental groups and park advocates have raised concerns about the use of fees intended for national park maintenance being directed toward the golf course’s landscaping, arguing this diverts resources from higher priority park needs.
The National Parks Conservation Association and other environmental organizations filed suit alleging that the removal violated environmental protection and park preservation laws. Testimony during the process indicated that many of the felled trees were healthy and noninvasive, contradicting official claims that they were dead or posed safety hazards.
Trump’s vision for the course includes transforming it into a longer, championship-style layout, a significant shift from the original historic links-style design. While Justice Department attorneys asserted the cutting aimed to restore elements of the traditional layout based on a 2019 assessment, the court found these justifications insufficient.
Alongside halting tree removal, the injunction requires advance notice for any course closures or irreversible modifications. The administration has appealed the decision and asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to suspend the injunction during the appeal process.
In the meantime, the golf course is scheduled to close by Nov. 15 for renovations expected to last approximately 15 months, a timeline now confirmed by both the Interior Department and the Park Service despite earlier contradictory statements. Trump has publicly criticized the course’s condition on social media, citing safety concerns and attributing potential hazards to court restrictions.
Further complicating the situation, a separate contract for removing hazardous trees in other parts of the park was modified shortly before the tree cutting at East Potomac commenced. The landscaping firm Riverbend Landscapes & Tree Service has been identified as the contractor responsible for the tree removal.
Work crews have reportedly returned to clear the felled trees even after the court order, adding to tensions surrounding the redevelopment project and the ongoing litigation.