U.S. judge temporarily blocks further tree removal at East Potomac Golf Course

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 — A federal judge on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order that bars the Department of the Interior from further carrying out a plan to remove trees from the East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C.

U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes wrote in a memorandum opinion that the National Park Service (NPS) removed about 430 "healthy, non-invasive trees" on Oct. 10. About 300 more trees were still slated for removal, according to the opinion.

The DC Preservation League and two golfers who play the course often, Alex Dickson and Dave Roberts, sued NPS and the Interior Department in February 2026. They asked for the order on Oct. 11 and claimed the agencies violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by not properly meeting its requirements before cutting down the trees.

Reyes found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their NEPA claim. The opinion said NPS "likely failed to comply" with the law's procedural and "hard look" requirements. NPS prepared no environmental impact statement or environmental assessment and relied on two categorical exclusion forms instead, according to the opinion.

The government said the tree management plan carries out a 2019 Cultural Landscape Report and is not connected to President Donald J. Trump's plan to rebuild the course. Reyes wrote, "That asks rather a lot of coincidence."

When the court asked at an Oct. 12 hearing whether there was any urgency to keep removing trees, National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Kevin Griess replied:

"Not that I’m aware of, Your Honor."

The order stays in effect through Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. The plaintiffs must post a $1.00 bond by Oct. 19, 2026.

On June 28, 2026, Trump posted on Truth Social that work on a new course would begin on Sept. 1, according to the opinion.