WASHINGTON — A federal judge is demanding answers about who ordered the removal of more than 400 trees at East Potomac Golf Links, a public golf course in Washington, D.C., that President Donald Trump wants to rebuild. The fight has moved to the courtroom, and news reports say Trump has attacked the judge in public.
Judge Ana Reyes of the U.S. District Court in Washington is overseeing a legal challenge to Trump’s plans for the course. She said she was “furious” over the tree removals, CNN reported.
What happened
Crews cut down at least 430 trees over the Oct. 10-11 weekend, according to CNN. Axios put the number at roughly 500. Golfers spotted workers cutting the trees on Saturday morning.
The Interior Department had given the court notice only on Friday at 4:55 p.m. It described the work as maintenance, including removing dead, dying, hazardous or invasive trees, and said it was not connected to “renovation or redesign” of the course. Less than a day later, crews were on site.
Why the judge was angry
In May, Reyes ordered the administration to get court approval before cutting down more than 10 trees at the course. At a hearing on Monday, Oct. 12, she told Justice Department lawyers they had lost “credibility” with her. When a Justice Department lawyer said the work was “not a renovation,” she called that “preposterous.”
She put a temporary hold on further tree removal and said she would extend it until the Interior Department’s deputy chief of staff, Gregory Wischer, testified, according to Axios.
What officials have testified
- Kevin Griess, the National Park Service superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, said he came up with the plan after his staff told him about a 2019 directive to make the course look more like it did when it opened. He said he knew of Trump’s renovation plans only from social media.
- Frank Lands, a top Park Service official, testified by video that he took direction from a superior at the Interior Department.
- The Interior Department and Park Service say the removals follow a 2019 Cultural Landscape Report, which found added tree growth had changed the course from its original links-style design.
Trump’s response
The Guardian reported that Trump called the judge a “crazed lunatic” while an Interior official testified about who ordered the trees cut. The reports reviewed do not include his full remarks.
Background on the course
East Potomac is a municipal course that the Interior Department took control of late last year. Trump wants to turn it into a championship-caliber course. Regulars worry about the plan because they can now play the Blue course for about $40. In May, the administration announced that the Park Service would partner with private and public groups to begin “immediate renovations.” Another example of a court weighing in on the administration is our report on the New York City sanctuary laws lawsuit.
What’s next
The judge has ordered more testimony from senior Interior officials, and the hold on tree removal remains while the court reviews the case. This story will be updated after further hearings.
