A US judge has condemned Justice Department lawyers over the Trump administration’s takeover of a historic Washington golf course, calling it “inexcusable” that hundreds of trees were removed from the site over the weekend.
"More than being upset and furious right now, I am just deeply disappointed in the government," US District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington told government lawyers during a court hearing on Monday . "On what universe did anyone in your office think this was acceptable?"
Reyes, who was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, said the abrupt removal of about 500 trees at East Potomac Golf Links, which began on Friday afternoon, was unacceptable because in May she had demanded that the government provide advance notice of any substantive construction work at the golf course.
The judge issued a temporary order blocking further tree removal and said any defiance of that order would result in proceedings to determine if government officials should be held in contempt of court.
The Justice Department's failure to notify the preservationist group that filed the lawsuit over the tree removal work "has cost the government all of its credibility" in the case, the judge said.
Reyes said she regretted that she had not put in writing her remarks in May that notice be given of any substantive construction work on the golf course. The judge said the lack of a prior written order was why she had not yet moved forward with contempt proceedings, which begin with a ruling known as a show cause order.
Justice Department lawyer Marissa Piropato said during the hearing that government attorneys had done their best to gather details on tree removal so they could share them in a court filing.
Since taking office in January 2025, US President Donald Trump has targeted US cultural and historical institutions from museums and monuments to national parks and arts centers in an attempt to reshape them.
The president announced plans last year to overhaul East Potomac Golf Links, a century-old public golf course owned by the federal government and managed by the National Park Service, part of the Interior Department.
Trump, a frequent golfer who owns several courses, has said he hopes the renovation will allow the course to host major tournaments.
(Source: Reuters)
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