A federal judge is considering additional restrictions on President Donald Trump’s plans to overhaul a historic golf course in Washington, D.C., after the government cut down hundreds of trees there.
During a hearing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes questioned the administration’s claim that the tree removal did not mean the project was moving forward. She also pushed back against its attempt to remove her from the case.
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The legal battle
The D.C. Preservation League and other plaintiffs are suing to stop renovations at East Potomac Golf Course, arguing the project could cause irreversible damage and violate the congressional act that established the park.
Last week, Reyes blocked further tree cutting through Oct. 26 after the administration removed more than 400 trees earlier this month. The removal took place before the government secured approval for its plans to turn the century-old public course into a championship-level facility.
Administration lawyers argued the tree removal did not mean the renovation was moving forward. But Reyes questioned that explanation Monday.
There’s “no universe in which all of this coincidentally happened all at the same time,” she said.
Reyes also rejected the administration’s argument that she should recuse herself from the case.
“It is easy to weaponize selective quotations to bring a baseless recusal motion. But it is much harder to meet the demanding legal standard against a full record,” she said.
The judge also revealed she has received death threats over the case.
“A federal judge is getting death threats over a golf course,” she said. “I really don’t think that’s what the founders envisioned.”
What Trump is saying
Trump, meanwhile, has laid out more details of his plans for the course.
In a social media post Sunday, he said the public course would close Nov. 15 for a 15-month renovation to transform it into a championship-level facility.
“So you have a golf course there now. It’s old, it’s tired, it’s beaten up, it’s useless,” Trump told reporters Monday. “It doesn’t do much business. We want to do something great for Washington. We’re going to basically build a better golf course. You could call it a renovation. It should be very simple.”
Trump has said work will begin immediately and has shared photos on Truth Social to promote the project.
The plaintiffs are now asking Reyes to extend her temporary order and halt more work. But the judge indicated Monday that a broader order stopping the entire project is unlikely.
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