Trump Appeals Judge's Order After 400 Trees Cut Down at DC Golf Course

The Trump administration appealed a federal judge's order Tuesday, October 27, 2026, barring further tree removal at a historic Washington, D.C., golf course after workers cut down more than 400 trees as part of a disputed overhaul. The ruling also requires advance notice before major changes to the public course that President Donald Trump wants transformed into a championship venue.

The Justice Department filed its appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a preliminary injunctionpreliminary injunctionA preliminary injunction is a temporary court order issued before a case is finally decided that requires a party to take or stop an action while the litigation continues. Federal courts generally consider the likelihood of success, irreparable harm, the balance of equities, and the public interest before granting one.Read more → issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes. The order prohibits additional tree removal at East Potomac Park without court approval and requires at least 10 business days' written notice before closing any portion of the course or making irreversible changes to the property.

The administration filed its appeal without requesting an immediate stay, leaving the restrictions in effect.

Reyes issued the 70-page ruling after the D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers sued the Department of the Interior and other federal officials over the redevelopment. Workers had already removed more than 400 trees, while the government maintained that the project remained in its preliminary stages.

The judge found that a renovation plan had become final before October 15, contrary to the administration's repeated representations that the proposal was still conceptual. Federal officials had characterized the tree cutting as routine maintenance under a 2019 National Park Service preservation plan, but Reyes found that the work formed part of a broader effort to replace the existing course with a championship-style facility designed by golf course architect Tom Fazio.

The government likely violated the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, by dividing the redevelopment into separate activities rather than assessing their combined environmental effects, Reyes found. The law requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental consequences of certain projects before proceeding.

The overhaul also involves more than 30,000 cubic yards of debris from the White House East Wing demolition, which federal officials separately classified as landscaping and maintenance. Plans call for new water features, buildings and changes to public roads, while preservation advocates argue that the redevelopment threatens access to the century-old municipal course and surrounding recreational areas.

Trump announced that East Potomac Golf Course would close November 15 for approximately 15 months of construction, but administration officials testified that they knew of no finalized renovation plan or closure schedule.

Reyes addressed those conflicting accounts in her ruling, writing, "Rarely, if ever, has the United States Department of Justice urged a federal court not to believe the sitting president."

Trump criticized the injunction Monday night and maintained that the renovation would proceed. He argued that the course needed improvements for safety and competition and challenged the judge's authority to delay the work or require advance notice.

On Tuesday, Reyes ordered the Justice Department to clarify whether the administration intends to close the course on or around November 15. She also rejected a request that she recuse herself from the litigation following criticism of her conduct during earlier hearings.

Federal officials have until 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 28, to explain why the court should not require the government and relevant Justice Department personnel to preserve records concerning the redevelopment plans, tree removals and notice provided before the work began.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. has been ordered to appear at a hearing Friday or Monday to address the administration's construction plans and the conflicting accounts surrounding the proposed November 15 closure.