Judge Ana Reyes, a U.S. District Judge in Washington, ordered that all tree‑cutting at the East Potomac Golf Course be stopped until Oct. 26, 2026.
The directive followed a tense three‑hour hearing on Tuesday, during which Reyes sharply criticized the federal government for misleading her about the timing of cuts scheduled over the holiday weekend.
She imposed a 24‑hour pause on work, with the possibility of extending it to 14 days while the government seeks a senior Trump‑era official to explain the sudden schedule.
Reyes’s ruling also demands that the government provide the court and plaintiffs at least three business days’ written notice before any permanent alteration to the course’s landscape, a step plaintiffs say was previously ignored.
The tree‑cutting project is part of President Donald Trump’s broader plan to revamp Washington, D.C., a scheme that has already drawn fire from environmental groups and historic preservationists.
The next hearing is set for next month, where the government must justify its plans and the plaintiffs will argue for protecting the historic site.