A Washington federal judge on Wednesday extended a temporary restraining order that stops further East Potomac tree removal at the East Potomac Golf Links and requires the government to give at least three business days’ notice before cutting any additional trees.
Judge Ana C. Reyes, who imposed the notice rule in May, said the Justice Department’s late filing—sent after work had begun—violated the procedural safeguards of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The original order, issued on Oct. 12, 2026, halted work until 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 13 and mandated that any future removal of more than ten trees be preceded by a minimum three‑business‑day notice to the court.
The order follows a lawsuit filed by the D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers, Alex Dickson and Dave Roberts, who allege the administration cut hundreds of trees without the required NEPA review. Plaintiffs cite 529 trees removed on Oct. 10; the administration reports 430 trees were taken down.
Court filings show the Justice Department notified the court of the tree‑cutting plan at 4:55 p.m. ET on Oct. 9, after the work had already begun. Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, testified that internal authorization for the removal was sent on Oct. 6, three days before the court was informed. The gap between internal approval and court notification prompted the judge’s rebuke, which she described as “the absolute worst” notice practice she has seen.
The lawsuit also alleges that soil and debris from the demolition of the White House East Wing were dumped on the golf course without NEPA review. The claim has not been independently verified, and other outlets have not corroborated it.
The East Potomac Golf Links, a historic 18‑hole course that serves District residents and nearby suburbs, remains closed to the public while the legal dispute proceeds. Contractors and landscaping suppliers are left in limbo, potentially delaying budget allocations tied to broader capital‑city beautification projects.
Environmental groups view the order as a test case for enforcing NEPA compliance on high‑profile federal projects. If the administration complies with the three‑day notice rule, it must pause any further tree removal, submit a detailed environmental assessment, and await court approval before resuming work. That could add weeks or months to the renovation timeline, depending on how quickly the agency prepares the required documentation.
The administration responded defensively. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, called the judge’s decision “an overreach that hampers essential improvements to public lands,” but offered no concrete plan for meeting the notice requirement.
A hearing is scheduled for later this week, during which the Justice Department must explain how it will provide the mandated notice and address the plaintiffs’ NEPA concerns. The court may extend the restraining order beyond Oct. 13 if the agency does not satisfy the notice requirement, leaving the future of the East Potomac renovation uncertain.