Federal judge blocks further changes to DC golf course

On October 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from removing or damaging additional trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., after hundreds of trees were cut down as part of President Trump's golf course renovation project. The judge ordered the government to provide ten business days' written notice before making any modifications to the park pending further litigation. This ruling followed weeks of controversy and a federal lawsuit filed by the DC Preservation League arguing that the tree removal violated environmental laws.

On October 30, Judge Reyes escalated the case by ordering an ethics inquiry into potential misconduct by Justice Department officials involved in the golf course dispute. The judge specifically asked whether government lawyers had misled the court about Trump's plans for renovations and requested a formal investigation into any ethical violations committed before her ruling. This development intensified the legal battle over President Trump’s efforts to reshape the public golf course in Washington, D.C., which has been met with strong opposition from environmentalists and local residents concerned about preservation of historical landmarks.