Judge Halts Work After 430 Trees Felled at DC's East Potomac Muni
By Staff Writer
3 min read
Key takeaways
- A federal judge ordered a 24-hour halt on further tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links, extendable to 14 days.
- 430 trees were removed from the course over the weekend before the court or plaintiffs could respond to notice filed just hours earlier.
- Interior Department deputy chief of staff Greg Wischer is set to testify Tuesday about who ordered the removal.
- The National Park Service took over East Potomac in December 2025 after ending the National Links Trust's 50-year lease.
- East Potomac's Blue course currently costs about $40 to play as the Tom Fazio-designed renovation moves forward.
A federal judge on Monday ordered a 24-hour halt to tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., ruling that the Interior Department had defied her earlier order requiring advance notice before major construction work at the historic municipal course.
What happened at East Potomac Golf Links?
Crews removed 430 trees from the course over the weekend, part of a renovation the National Park Service took charge of after the Interior Department ended a 50-year lease held by the National Links Trust late last year. The government had been ordered to give advance notice before felling 10 or more trees at a time. Notice of the weekend removal reached the court and the plaintiff, the DC Preservation League, at 4:55 p.m. Friday — just hours before the work began.
Why did the judge issue a halt?
During a three-hour hearing, Judge Reyes pressed government officials on how the notice requirement had been handled. National Mall and Memorial Parks superintendent Kevin Griess testified that the removal had been ordered by National Park Service deputy director for operations Frank Lands, who said he had in turn been directed by Interior Department deputy chief of staff Greg Wischer. Reyes ordered Wischer, who was not immediately reachable, to testify Tuesday.
Justice Department attorney Marissa Piropato told the court the government had done its best to inform the plaintiff of the removal timeline.
A notice requirement meant to prevent exactly this kind of dispute became the hearing's central flashpoint once the government's warning arrived hours before the work did.
Reyes's 24-hour halt on further removal can be extended up to 14 days, she said.
What's the renovation plan for East Potomac?
The government says the removals were meant to improve safety and restore the largely treeless character of Walter Travis's original 1920s design. The DC Preservation League has argued in a court filing that the pace of clearing is driven instead by the administration's push to complete a larger overhaul of the course, designed by Tom Fazio.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | Interior Department terminates National Links Trust's 50-year lease over East Potomac, Langston and Rock Creek |
| May 2026 | National Park Service announces "immediate renovations" at East Potomac with National Links Trust and other partners; Langston and Rock Creek restoration returned to the Trust |
| October 2026 | 430 trees removed over a weekend; judge orders 24-hour halt, extendable to 14 days |
East Potomac's Blue course currently costs about $40 to play, a rate regulars worry could rise sharply once the renovation is complete. Wischer is scheduled to testify Tuesday on who authorized the removal and when notice was actually given.
Frequently asked questions
What is East Potomac Golf Links?
East Potomac Golf Links is a historic municipal golf facility in Washington, D.C., originally designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s. It is now the subject of a Trump administration-backed renovation designed by Tom Fazio.
Who controls East Potomac Golf Links now?
The National Park Service took over after the Interior Department terminated the National Links Trust's 50-year lease on East Potomac, Langston and Rock Creek in December 2025. The Trust remains a partner on the East Potomac renovation.
Why did the judge criticize the Interior Department?
A prior court order required the government to give advance notice before removing 10 or more trees. Notice of the weekend removal was filed only hours before the work began, which the judge said violated the spirit of her order.
How many trees were removed at East Potomac?
The government said 430 trees came down over the weekend, which it described as necessary to improve safety and restore the course's original, largely treeless design.
What happens next in the case?
The judge's 24-hour halt on further tree removal can be extended to 14 days. Interior Department deputy chief of staff Greg Wischer is expected to testify Tuesday about who ordered the removal and when notice was provided.
- east potomac golf links
- national park service
- interior department
- national links trust
- tom fazio
- dc preservation league
- trump administration
- course renovation
