Judge Rebukes Administration Over Planned Overhaul of East Potomac Golf Links
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Federal Judge Ana C. Reyes criticized the Trump administration for proceeding with a renovation of the historic East Potomac Golf Links despite a court order, ordering a halt to tree removal.
Federal Judge Ana C. Reyes sharply rebuked lawyers for the Trump administration during a hearing on Monday, questioning the effort to move ahead with a major renovation of the historic East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. The judge had earlier issued a temporary injunction that barred the government from advancing the project.
Reyes asked the attorneys who had told the court the redesign was still conceptual, "Do I believe the president of the United States or do I believe you?" She noted that President Trump had posted detailed plans for a "championship-style" golf course, while officials continued to claim no final plan existed.
The renovation proposal, which would combine three existing courses into a single facility, has been challenged by a D.C. preservation group and private individuals who argue it could raise tee-time fees and limit public access. In May, Reyes ordered the administration to provide notice before any substantial construction, including the removal of more than 10 trees. Despite that order, officials notified the court on Oct. 9 that up to 529 trees would be removed, and bulldozers began felling trees the following day.
During an emergency hearing, Reyes described the tree-felling as beyond routine maintenance, expressed disappointment, and ordered a 24-hour halt to the work. She said she had given the government "every single benefit of the doubt" that it would not act contrary to the court's instructions.
The White House subsequently filed a motion seeking Reyes's recusal, alleging bias, but the judge declined to step aside. President Trump posted on Truth Social that the judge was a "crazed lunatic" and asserted that renovation work would begin immediately, a statement that conflicted with a Department of Justice filing stating the plan was not final pending National Park Service review.
The century-old course, one of the first public courses to be desegregated, is protected as a historic landmark. Plaintiffs argue that the 2019 preservation plan cited by the administration calls for removal of invasive vegetation, not the extensive tree removal currently underway.