A federal judge has extended a pause on East Potomac Golf Links tree removal in Washington, D.C., through Oct. 26, after hundreds of trees came down at the public course over a holiday weekend. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued the order on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, according to CBS News, and told the government to give advance notice before making major changes to the site.
What the Judge Ordered on Tuesday
The order bars the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service from cutting any more trees at the course through Monday, Oct. 26. NBC News reported that the directive was posted on the court docket a day after an emergency hearing.
The judge also set a notice rule. Until Oct. 26, the government must give the court and the plaintiffs three business days of written notice before making any irreparable change to a permanent feature of the course, WTOP reported.
The plaintiffs are the D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers. They are challenging President Donald Trump’s planned overhaul of the course. Reyes said they would likely be harmed without relief.
How East Potomac Golf Links Tree Removal Unfolded Over the Weekend
The dispute escalated quickly. Just before 5 p.m. on Friday, the Justice Department told the court that the National Park Service planned to remove an estimated 529 trees. The filing described the work as a tree management and cultural landscape rehabilitation project.
Crews began cutting on Saturday. In a Sunday filing, the D.C. Preservation League said all 529 trees had been cut that day, including healthy, mature oaks and maples, and that hundreds more were due to come down soon. Rain slowed the work, according to the CBS report.
The government gave a lower figure. Justice Department lawyer Marissa Piropato told the judge that 430 trees were felled in total, with roughly 99 more identified for removal.
On Monday, Reyes ordered a 24-hour stop to the cutting, the Associated Press reported. Her Tuesday order replaced that short pause with the longer one.
Why advance notice was at the center of the case
Reyes had not blocked the project earlier. Instead, she required the government to tell the court before major work began, including cutting more than 10 trees, according to WUSA9. She said the weekend cutting was exactly what she had told the government not to do.
That requirement is why the timing of the Friday filing drew so much attention in court.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | What is known |
|---|---|
| Order issued | Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026 |
| Judge | U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes |
| Tree cutting barred through | Monday, Oct. 26 |
| Plaintiffs | D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers |
| Trees felled (government count) | 430, with about 99 more identified |
| Plaintiffs’ account | All 529 planned trees cut on Saturday |
| Notice required | Three business days before irreparable changes |
| Next hearing | Oct. 19 |
A judge has extended the East Potomac Golf Links tree removal halt through Oct. 26 and ordered three business days of notice before permanent changes. The government says 430 trees were felled. The plaintiffs say all 529 planned trees came down. A hearing on Oct. 19 will look at who approved the work.
A Sharp Exchange in Court
The Monday hearing lasted several hours. Reyes accused the government of deceiving her, Fox 5 DC reported. She told Piropato the Justice Department’s efforts to inform the court were not its best. In her words, “You did your absolute worst.”
She also told government lawyers that they had lost credibility. At a hearing last month, she had said she hoped to avoid a restraining order and told the courtroom, “I do not speak for the trees. I am a judge,” NBC News reported.
The judge ordered two officials to testify about how the weekend decision came together and who approved it. They are Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, and Frank Lands, deputy director of operations for the National Park Service.
Disputed Numbers and Open Questions
The two sides do not agree on the scale of East Potomac Golf Links tree removal over the weekend. The gap between 430 and 529 matters, because the court is trying to determine what happened before it ruled on Monday and Tuesday. Neither figure has been independently confirmed in the reporting reviewed for this article.
Earlier counts were far smaller. WUSA9 reported that the Park Service told the court in September that about 150 trees, or less than 4% of the total, had been removed from East Potomac Park. The agency also said no cherry trees had been cut, after rumors spread online that historic cherry trees were being removed.
Several questions remain open. The court has not yet said what will happen once the current order expires, and the lawsuit itself has not been decided. A temporary order like this one is a short-term measure and not a final ruling.
Background on the Course Overhaul
East Potomac is one of three public golf courses in the District, WUSA9 reported. According to Forbes, Trump said over the summer, after touring the course, that his overhaul would begin on Sept. 1. He wrote on social media that he wanted the course to be able to host major tournaments.
The weekend East Potomac Golf Links tree removal is the latest step in a legal fight that has been moving through court for months.
What Happens Next
Reyes scheduled another hearing for Oct. 19. She ordered Jessica Bowron, acting director of the National Park Service, and Gregory Wischer, deputy chief of staff at the Interior Department, to appear. Griess and Lands are expected to explain the decision-making behind the weekend work.
The current order runs through Oct. 26. Until then, East Potomac Golf Links tree removal is on hold, and any permanent change to the course requires advance written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
1How long will East Potomac Golf Links tree removal be paused?
The judge barred further tree cutting through Monday, Oct. 26.
2How many trees were cut down?
A Justice Department lawyer said 430 trees were felled, with about 99 more identified. The D.C. Preservation League said all 529 planned trees were cut on Saturday.
3Who brought the lawsuit?
The D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers. They are challenging President Trump’s planned overhaul of the course.
4What must the government do before changing the course?
Through Oct. 26, it must give the court and plaintiffs three business days of written notice before any irreparable change to a permanent feature.
5When is the next court hearing?
Oct. 19. The judge ordered the acting National Park Service director and an Interior Department deputy chief of staff to appear.
