WASHINGTON (7News) — President Donald Trump said the historic East Potomac Golf Links will close for 15 months beginning November 15 as part of a major renovation aimed at transforming the public golf course into a championship-level destination. But the plan remains entangled in a legal battle over the removal of hundreds of trees — and the administration is now seeking to remove the federal judge overseeing the case.
Trump has said the renovation would create a world-class golf facility capable of hosting major tournaments, including the U.S. Open and Ryder Cup, while remaining open to the public. The announcement raises new questions about the timeline and scope of a project that the administration’s lawyers had previously described as conceptual.
Dispute over hundreds of trees
The redevelopment faces a lawsuit from the D.C. Preservation League and two golfers, who argue the government is moving forward without adequately addressing environmental and historic preservation concerns.
The dispute escalated after crews removed hundreds of trees from the course in early October. The National Park Service initially identified 529 trees for removal, but the administration later estimated that it could ultimately cut down about 729 trees.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered the administration to stop further tree removal through at least October 26. She also required advance notice before any additional irreversible changes to the property occur. Reyes has questioned the government’s explanation for the work and whether it was connected to Trump’s broader renovation plans.
The administration has maintained that the tree removal was intended to restore the course’s historic landscape, rather than carry out Trump’s larger redevelopment plan.
Administration seeks judge’s removal
The Justice Department has filed a motion asking Reyes to recuse herself from the case, accusing her of bias and hostility toward the Trump administration following a contentious hearing over the tree removal.
Government attorneys cited her comments during court proceedings and her handling of the case, arguing that her conduct raises questions about whether she can remain impartial. The administration is seeking to have the case transferred to another judge.
However, a judge’s adverse rulings or criticism of attorneys do not, by themselves, establish bias. Reyes has not been removed from the case, and the administration’s request remains part of the ongoing legal dispute.
What happens next?
Reyes is scheduled to hear testimony Monday, October 19, from senior officials at the Interior Department and National Park Service about how the tree-removal plan was developed and who authorized the work.
The hearing could provide more detail on the administration’s decision-making process and its plans for the golf course. The judge’s order restricting additional tree removal remains in effect through October 26.
Trump’s announcement of a November 15 start date adds urgency to the dispute, but the renovation’s future remains subject to the ongoing litigation and the court’s orders.