Judge Bars New Changes to Washington Golf Course Renovation

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes extended a court order blocking the Trump administration's renovation plans for the East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C.

The preliminary injunction issued on Monday temporarily prevents the government from removing or damaging any additional trees on the course. The administration must provide 10 days of written notice before making any irreparable modification to the course's forms or features while the lawsuit is active.

Reyes stated in her ruling that she is not the Lorax and does not speak for the trees. She wrote that the court speaks only for the rule of law. The judge expressed astonishment that the government asked her to disregard President Donald J. Trump’s statements about the plans.

Reyes noted that the case began as a dispute about golf but has grown to force the court to reconcile the president's assertions with sworn testimony from government employees and arguments from Department of Justice attorneys. She said the government forced her hand by cutting down hundreds of trees without notice, doing what it assured it would not do.

Trump announced on social media on Oct. 18 that he plans to close the 106-year-old public course for 15 months starting Nov. 15. He stated the work would redevelop the park and course. A day later, he posted that work would start immediately. The plaintiffs, the D.C. Preservation League and two golfers, claim the work is causing irreversible damage.

The judge excoriated the government after workers cut down at least 400 trees over a holiday weekend with little notice to the plaintiffs. Reyes rejected the administration's request for her to recuse herself from the case after the government questioned her impartiality.

Trump responded to the ruling late Monday night as he arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland following a rally in Mississippi. He indicated that work on the golf course will proceed as planned and said he would appeal the decision. He called the planned overhaul a beautiful project for Washington, D.C.

In a social media post, Trump reiterated that the course will close on Nov. 15 for renovation and rebuild. He cited competitive, safety, modernization, and aesthetic reasons for the closure. Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which is co-counsel for the plaintiffs, called the ruling a big win that protects the park from further harm while the case continues.