Judge Reyes bars tree removal at East Potomac golf course in 70-page injunction

Left · 2On Monday night, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes granted a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration over its plans to renovate East Potomac Golf Links, a publicly owned course beside the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. 1 2 Left · 1In the 70-page ruling, Reyes prohibited the government from "removing or damaging" any trees on the course while the lawsuit works its way through the courts, and required 10 days' notice before any "irreparable modification" to the course. The judge had previously blocked tree removal only through Monday. 1 Left · 1The D.C. Preservation League sued, arguing the government violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to analyse the project's impacts. Reyes found the group likely to succeed on that claim and found that the tree cutting was part of the renovation plan. Reyes said the court did not find credible the statements of the Interior Department's deputy chief of staff, including his description of the tree work as "cleaning up" the course. 1

Left · 2The dispute escalated after the government cut down hundreds of trees earlier this month with little notice to the court or plaintiffs. CBS News reported more than 430 trees were felled, and Raw Story reported that more than 400 were cleared without notifying the court. At a hearing two weeks ago, Reyes told government lawyers they had "lost credibility" and that the judge was "furious" and "thoroughly unamused." 1 2 Left · 1Reyes wrote that the court intervened only "because the Government did what it assured all it would not do." In an earlier denial of a recusal request, Reyes said the government gave notice at 4:55 p.m. on the Friday of a holiday weekend that tree removal would begin within 15 hours, removed nearly 430 trees in one day, and would have felled hundreds more but for a rain delay. 1 Left · 2Reyes's ruling took aim at the Justice Department's position that it is legally too early to challenge the plans because no final decision has been made. Justice Department lawyers had asked the court to disregard President Trump's social media posts announcing work, and had said they would alert the court before further work. Reyes wrote: "Rarely, if ever, has the United States Department of Justice urged a federal court not to believe the sitting President." The judge added: "This started as a case about golf. That good walk spoiled." 1 2

Left · 1Trump has pitched a "World Class Championship Golf Course" to replace the current "dysfunctional" one. He said last week the course would close for construction from November and reopen in 15 months, and later said work would begin "IMMEDIATELY." 1 Left · 1Trump has called Reyes a "crazed lunatic," and earlier this month the administration asked Reyes to recuse, citing "open hostility" and alleged bias; Reyes rejected the request and denied being biased. CBS News said it had asked the Justice Department and the Interior Department for comment. 1 Left · 1Reaction online split along political lines: Occupy Democrats managing editor Grant Stern called the ruling a "major smackdown," while Trump supporter Mike Davis, who runs the Article III Project, attacked Reyes in a post on X. 2