Judge orders 24-hour pause on tree removal at East Potomac golf course

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes on Monday issued a 24-hour injunction stopping the removal of trees at the historic East Potomac golf course in Washington, D.C. The order comes as she considers an emergency request from plaintiffs who argue that the planned work could cause immediate and irreparable harm.

"Tree removal for routine maintenance is not exempt from this order," Reyes wrote. "Plaintiffs are likely to suffer immediate and irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief. The removal of hundreds of trees from East Potomac golf course is permanent."

The injunction follows a National Park Service statement that it intended to cut 500 trees deemed not part of the historic landscape. The judge asked Kevin Griess, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, to provide details on the removal timeline and the authority behind the work.

According to the agency, the first phase involved 169 trees slated to be removed on Saturday, with a second phase of 90 trees planned thereafter. The tree removal is linked to plans to expand the golf course into a larger venue, a project advanced by President Donald Trump since the start of his second term in early 2025.