Judge halts tree removal at Washington golf course Trump eyes for expansion
Ana Reyes demands Trump officials explain East Potomac tree cutting and says it will likely cause ‘irreparable harm’
TL;DR
- US District Judge Ana Reyes ordered a 24-hour halt to tree cutting at the East Potomac golf course.
- The halt is a response to plaintiffs' concerns that Donald Trump's plans for the course are moving forward despite a pending court case.
- The judge stated that tree removal for routine maintenance is not exempt and that the removal of hundreds of trees is permanent and could cause irreparable harm.
- The National Park Service (NPS) had previously announced plans to cut 500 trees.
- The judge is seeking information from NPS Superintendent Kevin Griess regarding the timeline and ordering of the work.
- Residents fear Trump's changes will alter the character of the historic course, leading to costlier fees and loss of public space.