Judge Rebukes Trump Administration Over Planned Overhaul of East Potomac Golf Links
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Federal Judge Ana C. Reyes sharply criticized the Trump administration for pressing ahead with a renovation of the historic East Potomac Golf Links despite a court order, and she ordered an immediate halt to tree removal.
Federal Judge Ana C. Reyes sharply rebuked lawyers for the Trump administration during a hearing on Monday, exposing what appeared to be a blatant attempt to push through a major renovation of the historic East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. despite an earlier temporary injunction barring 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 pointed out that President Trump had posted detailed plans for a "championship-style" golf course, while officials kept insisting no final plan existed, a contradiction that only deepened the court’s concern.
The renovation proposal, which would merge three existing courses into a single facility, has been challenged by a D.C. preservation group and private individuals who say it could raise tee-time fees and further restrict public access to a treasured public space. In May, Reyes ordered the administration to provide notice before any substantial construction, including the removal of more than 10 trees. Yet officials told the court on Oct. 9 that up to 529 trees would be removed, and bulldozers began cutting them down the next day.
During an emergency hearing, Reyes described the tree-felling as far beyond routine maintenance, expressed clear frustration, 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, only to see that trust tested immediately.
The White House subsequently filed a motion seeking Reyes’s recusal, alleging bias, but the judge refused to step aside. President Trump posted on Truth Social that the judge was a "crazed lunatic" and claimed renovation work would begin immediately, a statement that directly conflicted with a Department of Justice filing saying the plan remained unfinished 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 sweeping tree removal now underway.