Golfers are navigating around the course at East Potomac Golf Links. The National Park Service confirmed plans to remove more than 500 trees. The removals are part of a proposed renovation by the Trump Administration.
In a tense hearing, federal Judge Ana C. Reyes criticized administration lawyers for President Trump’s actions regarding the renovation. The court had temporarily blocked the project, yet Trump’s detailed plans were publicized. Reyes questioned the conflicting statements and demanded clarity. She expressed frustration over Trump’s public statements on a finalized plan while lawyers claimed otherwise.
Trump’s proposal aims to merge the existing courses into a single “championship-style” course. This plan faced challenges from a D.C. preservation group. They argue renovations would hike tee-time costs, countering the course’s original intent as accessible to all.
The course, on a peninsula between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel, was ordered to notify the court before significant construction, including the removal of over 10 trees. Despite this, officials declared plans to remove 529 trees. Bulldozers began the work following this notification, prompting an emergency hearing. Reyes criticized the lack of notice, halting the removal temporarily.
Reyes voiced disappointment over the government’s actions, stating it contradicted her earlier orders. Despite the White House’s motion to remove Reyes for alleged bias, she refused to step aside. Ahead of the hearing, Trump labeled Reyes a “crazed lunatic” on Truth Social, insisting renovations could proceed without court approval. His post contradicted the Department of Justice, which had noted the plan wasn’t finalized.
Residents fear losing access to the course and its surrounding recreational area. East Potomac Golf Links, a historic public course, was among the first to desegregate. Reyes emphasized its significance as a historic landmark. The White House claims adherence to a 2019 plan that only suggested removing invasive plants, not native trees.
The golf course renovation is among several efforts where Trump challenges court oversight to reshape Washington, D.C.’s landscape. Plans reportedly include demolishing the Kennedy Center and constructing an arch near the National Mall.
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