A judge blocks the government's tree-clearing spree at a municipal D.C. golf course
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from clearing trees at a D.C. municipal golf course. The judge expressed frustration over the government's lack of transparency and ordered officials to testify regarding the project's future.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing legal tensions regarding executive authority over federal land use and the limits of administrative transparency in the nation's capital.
A federal judge has temporarily barred the Trump administration from cutting down additional trees at a D.C. municipal golf course, the latest example of a court intervening in the government's efforts to reshape pieces of the nation's capital.
The long-simmering fight over East Potomac Golf Links — which President Trump wants to redevelop into a championship-level course — erupted over the weekend, after the administration cut down hundreds of trees with little notice.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes had ordered the administration in May to get court approval before cutting down more than 10 trees at the golf course. Officials notified the court just before 5 p.m. on Friday of their plan to remove "up to 529 trees" in phases starting on Saturday — and had razed at least 430 by the end of the day, prompting Reyes to call an emergency hearing on Monday.
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in