A federal judge on Monday ordered an immediate halt to all tree removal at East Potomac golf course in Washington, D.C., freezing the work until 7 a.m. Tuesday or until the court issues another order. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said the pause covers even routine maintenance cutting while the court weighs an emergency challenge to the project.
The order stopped tree cutting just days after the National Park Service began removing trees at the historic course as part of a renovation backed by President Donald Trump. The agency had said more than 500 trees that do not contribute to the course's historic landscape would be cut, and the Interior Department said the work was meant to restore the course's historic character and reopen views of nearby landmarks.
That explanation is now colliding with the legal fight in court. Reyes heard the emergency motion for a temporary restraining order at 10 a.m. and set the matter to pick up again at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, leaving the tree removal frozen for at least the rest of the day and into the morning.
The immediate effect is simple: the National Park Service must stop cutting trees at East Potomac golf course while the challenge is heard. What happens after Tuesday morning will depend on whether Reyes extends the halt or lets the work resume under the renovation plan.
