Judge likely to extend block on golf course tree clearing in a clash over Trump’s redesign

A federal judge signaled Monday that she will keep in place her ban on further tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links, the federally owned Washington course President Donald Trump wants rebuilt. Judge Ana Reyes, who has previously concluded that the government acted dishonestly, said the timing of the cutting and Trump's renovation push could not be a coincidence. Her comments came during a hearing that lasted seven hours, according to NBC News.

Justice Department lawyers insisted no redesign had been settled, yet Trump announced on social media that Interior and architect Tom Fazio had produced a plan, with the old course closing November 15. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said no closure was planned. Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron and Interior chief of staff Gregory Wischer each testified they knew of no such plan.

The plaintiffs, a preservation group and two city residents, say the work would turn the century-old, three-course site into one championship layout. Trump called the property tired and useless and branded Reyes a "crazed lunatic."

Summarized by PolitiKool from NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at NBC News →