U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes issued the restriction Monday during a remote hearing in a dispute over the East Potomac Golf Course. The judge declined to grant a temporary restraining order at this stage but ordered that the National Park Service provide advance notice to government lawyers before removing more than 10 trees at the site. The ruling came after the DC Preservation League filed an emergency petition seeking to halt work at the course.
The preservation group's petition was prompted by news reports indicating that major renovations were set to begin Monday. However, Kevin Griess, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks for the National Park Service, testified during the hearing that no such work was scheduled to commence that day. He confirmed that a safety assessment was underway at the property.
Reyes made clear during oral arguments that she wanted to avoid heavy-handed intervention in park management decisions. "I'm no Amy Poehler," she said, alluding to the sitcom "Parks and Recreation," while emphasizing that she also would not permit indiscriminate tree removal. She told both parties she was unwilling to play the role of the parks department but remained concerned about preservation of the trees.
A procedural matter arose when Reyes inquired about closure signs that she said had been placed at the site. Griess requested verification, and subsequently reported that no such signs were present. The judge instructed that if any were discovered, government attorneys must be notified.
The DC Preservation League's complaint challenges the Trump administration's reconstruction plans under federal law. The lawsuit argues that renovation of East Potomac Park and its golf course would violate a congressional act from 1897 that established the park for "recreation and the pleasure of the people." The golf course itself opened in 1919.
Trump, an accomplished golfer, is also planning renovations to a military golf course located outside Washington that has served sitting presidents for decades. The judge's restriction applies specifically to tree removal exceeding 10 at the East Potomac site, leaving other aspects of the renovation plan subject to continued litigation.
