U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a preliminary injunction on October 26, 2026, blocking the Trump administration from removing trees or making major alterations at Washington's East Potomac Golf Course. The decision follows the sudden clearing of over 400 trees and public statements by President Donald Trump announcing a 15-month closure to build a championship course. Judge Reyes highlighted stark contradictions between Trump's public declarations and Justice Department testimony that no final renovation plans exist.
Terms of the preliminary injunction
- ▪The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes on October 26, 2026, requires the Trump administration to provide 10 days' written notice before making any irreparable modification or closing the East Potomac Golf Course
- ▪U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a 70-page preliminary injunction, barring the Trump administration from removing or damaging any additional trees at the East Potomac Golf Links
Testimony on lack of knowledge of plans
- ▪Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron testified in federal court that she was unaware of President Donald Trump's plans to close the East Potomac Golf Course
- ▪Interior Department Deputy Chief of Staff Greg Wischer testified on October 19, 2026, that he had not met with golf course architect Tom Fazio or Trump fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke regarding new plans for the East Potomac Golf Course
Tree removal and government justification
- ▪Government lawyers argued to U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes that the October 2026 removal of over 400 trees at East Potomac Park was connected to an existing 2019 renovation plan
- ▪The Trump administration overseeing the East Potomac Golf Course renovation felled over 400 healthy, non-invasive trees at the East Potomac Golf Course in one day over a holiday weekend in October 2026
NEPA lawsuit and environmental review claims
- ▪The D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's renovation plans announced on Oct. 18 for the East Potomac Golf Course under the National Environmental Policy Act
- ▪U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes found that the D.C. Preservation League is likely to succeed in demonstrating that the Trump administration violated National Environmental Policy Act requirements by failing to conduct environmental reviews
Dispute over final agency action
- ▪Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward argued in federal court that the lawsuit filed by the D.C. Preservation League against the East Potomac Golf Course overhaul was premature because the government had taken no final agency action
- ▪In her October 26, 2026 ruling, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes highlighted the conflict between President Donald Trump's public statements announcing immediate course renovations and Department of Justice claims that no final agency action had occurred
Trump's renovation timeline
- ▪President Donald Trump posted on social media that redevelopment work at the East Potomac Golf Course would begin immediately
- ▪President Donald Trump announced on social media on October 18, 2026, that the East Potomac Golf Course would close for a 15-month redevelopment into a world championship course starting November 15, 2026
Judicial disqualification attempt
- ▪Trump administration attorneys argued in their recusal motion in the East Potomac Golf Course case that U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes demonstrated bias by questioning their intelligence and displaying disdain for the administration
- ▪U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes rejected a disqualification motion from Trump administration attorneys in the East Potomac Golf Course case, accusing her of bias and open hostility toward government lawyers
East Potomac Park features
- ▪The East Potomac Golf Links is a century-old publicly owned park and golf facility located alongside the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
- ▪Washington, D.C. residents sought to protect East Potomac Park to preserve its affordable historic golf course and miles of public walking and cycling trails
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