Judge Ana Reyes orders 10-day notice before further changes to East Potomac Golf Links

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a longer-term injunction on Monday that prevents the Trump administration from removing or damaging additional trees at East Potomac Golf Links.

The order requires the government to provide written notice 10 business days before making any irreparable modification to the park's features while the lawsuit remains active. This requirement stems from the judge's finding that the administration acted in bad faith. Reyes stated she believed this extension was necessary after the government abruptly chopped down more than 400 trees during the Columbus Day holiday weekend earlier this month.

The ruling highlights a conflict between public statements made by President Donald Trump and the sworn testimony of federal employees. The judge cited specific Truth Social posts that contradicted earlier arguments made by senior Department of Justice attorneys.

On Oct. 18, Trump claimed that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and an architect had developed a plan to build a World Class Championship Golf Course starting Nov. 15. At that time, Justice Department lawyers had told the court there was no renovation plan. A follow-up post on Oct. 19 stated that work would begin immediately and that workers did not need approval for construction. In that same post, the President referred to Judge Reyes as a crazed lunatic.

Reyes noted that she had to reconcile these assertions with the evidence presented during a seven-hour hearing this month. She observed that it is rare for the Department of Justice to urge a federal court not to believe the sitting President, yet the current record required exactly that.

Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represents the plaintiffs, praised the ruling. She called it a major victory that protects the park from further irreparable harm. Perryman expressed gratitude for the court's intervention and stated the group is eager to continue arguing the case in court.

The order concludes with Reyes clarifying the court's role in the dispute. She wrote that the court does not speak for the trees but speaks only for the rule of law.