Judge extends block on Trump plan to renovate golf course

Updated / Tuesday, 27 Oct 2026 07:31

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A US judge has extended a court order blocking President Donald Trump's plans to renovate a historic Washington golf course where she had deemed a removal of trees "inexcusable".

The renovation, at the centre of a lawsuit over environmental and historic preservation concerns, is one of the projects Mr Trump is pursuing to reshape landmarks in the US capital.

"The court still does not speak for the trees," US District Judge Ana Reyes said in her order filed in the district court for the District of Columbia, adding, "It speaks only for the rule of law."

Her order barred the government from "removing or damaging additional trees" on the course.

It also ordered the government to provide ten business days of written advance notice before it makes any "irreparable modification" at the park, pending the suit outcome.

Mr Trump said in an online post late yesterday that the government would appeal the decision and that his administration would close "the East Potomac Golf Course Site as scheduled on November 15th in order to renovate and rebuild".

Two weeks earlier, Judge Reyes faulted the conduct of Justice Department lawyers in the lawsuit seeking to halt the Trump administration's takeover of the historic golf course.

It was "inexcusable" that hundreds of trees were removed from the course during the prior weekend, she added.

Last week Mr Trump said his administration would begin renovation work immediately, despite the judge's order that work could not proceed without prior notice to the court. Mr Trump had also attacked the judge by calling her a "lunatic".

The DC Preservation League sued in February to halt the takeover, on the grounds that it would violate ⁠environmental laws and "irreparably destroy a priceless piece of American history".

Judge Reyes said the government had asked her to disregard Mr Trump's statements about the renovation plans.

"Rarely, if ever, has the United States Department of Justice urged a federal court not to believe the sitting president," she said.

"This started as a case about golf ... But it has become much more," the judge added.

"It now forces the court to reconcile assertions by President Donald J. Trump with the sworn testimony of multiple government employees and the argument of senior DOJ attorneys."