A federal judge has hit pause on work at East Potomac, a historic Washington DC course tied to Donald Trump's plans to reshape the capital.
US district judge Ana Reyes has ordered a halt to tree-cutting at the East Potomac golf course in Washington DC, extending a pause on work at the historic public course until 26 October. The ruling landed on Tuesday and keeps the chainsaws quiet for now.
Reyes acted one day after a tense three-hour hearing in which she sharply criticized the government. She accused officials of misleading her through their actions over the holiday weekend, a charge that clearly shaped the tone of the courtroom and the outcome.
The order goes beyond the tree-cutting freeze. Authorities must now give advance notice before making any changes to the course, a safeguard designed to stop work from moving ahead before the court can weigh in.
East Potomac sits at the center of Donald Trump's broader vision to remake the nation's capital, which makes this ruling a notable check on that agenda. With the pause running until 26 October, the next steps in the legal fight will decide what becomes of one of Washington's best-known public golf venues.
