Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump's DC Golf Course Overhaul

A federal judge on Saturday blocked the Trump administration from closing East Potomac Park in Washington. The park's golf course was set to shut Sunday for a redevelopment Trump has championed.

• 15 months: the planned closure period for the course.
• 30 pages: the length of Reyes' order keeping the park open to the public.
• 400+ trees were removed earlier with minimal notice, prompting an October order.
• Government does not have to operate the course while the case proceeds.

Why it matters: Reyes found the closure likely violated environmental law and skipped required public notice and comment. She called the government's safety rationale pretextual.

• The DC Preservation League and two golfers sued in February over access and affordability.
• Arch, ballroom and Kennedy Center projects also face legal challenges.

How 7 sources split on this story

Where they split: The parties dispute whether the closure was a safety measure tied to an expiring lease or the first step in Trump's redevelopment plan.

What’s next: Reyes plans to name former U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu to examine whether officials misled the court or violated ethics rules.

• Justice Department lawyers asked her to reconsider the outside review.
• The Justice Department has also sought Reyes' removal from the case; she has not recused.
• Will the administration appeal the restraining order?
• What will Liu's review find about the government's statements to the court?
• Who will run the course now that the operator's lease has ended?