NewzA federal judge has ordered an immediate halt to all tree removal at East Potomac golf course in D.C. amid an emergency court hearing scheduled for Monday morni A federal judge has ordered a stop to all tree cutting at East Potomac Golf Course at least until Tuesday morning, days after the National Park Service began a new round of tree removals at the historic golf course.
District Court Judge Ana Reyes ordered Kevin Griess, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, to testify under oath Monday morning about the removal of more than 500 trees Saturday, including who ordered the removal and when he received the order. More than 500 trees “that do not contribute to the historic landscape will be removed” as part of the rehabilitation project, the National Park Service said in a court filing Friday. The agency said it planned to remove 169 trees starting Saturday, with another 90 slated for removal later.
Preservation League and two residents who’ve been suing to stop plans to renovate the park say that the emergency motion said even if the Park Service under President Donald Trump were entitled to a benefit of the doubt, “they’re not entitled to a suspension of disbelief.” The tree removals come as Trump has moved to turn the course into a world-class golf venue as part of his grand vision for D.C. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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