Trump administration moves to remove judge in Golf Course case after she rebuked officials
WASHINGTON, DC: The Trump administration is pursuing the removal of a judge who blasted lawyers over the uprooting of trees from a public park to transform it into President Donald Trump’s aspirational golf course project.
US District Judge Ana C Reyes has reprimanded Trump lawyers over the removal of trees from the public park without informing the court, as the government was ordered to inform the court about any such move.
Trump admin wants removal of judge over 'egregious' behavior
In a motion filed on Friday, October 16, the Trump administration sought the removal of District Judge Ana C Reyes from a legal challenge over its planned overhaul of East Potomac Golf Links.
Pointing to the earlier hearing, Trump lawyers alleged that her “behavior in this case is nothing short of egregious.”
In Friday’s filing, a Justice Department lawyer said, “Judge Reyes’s conduct rises to the level of deep-seated and unequivocal antipathy toward the Trump Administration,” citing comments she had made when overseeing other cases involving the administration.
“The Trump Administration is entitled to a neutral forum and an adjudicator who is capable of maintaining the appearance of impartiality,” the lawyer continued. “Judge Reyes has demonstrated she cannot do that.”
What happened during Monday’s hearing
In a hearing earlier this week, the judge rebuked lawyers, saying “ignorance is not an excuse,” after lawyers had said that they were not aware of the clearing of hundreds of trees from the public golf course.
During the hearing on October 12, Reyes said that she was “furious” with the Trump administration for cutting down 169 trees from the East Potomac Golf Course without first notifying the court, adding that “the government can’t be trusted.”
HAPPENING NOW: Judge Reyes is furious. She has repeatedly told the government to inform her before any major demolition work was done on the golf course. The abrupt removal of 500 trees, without notice, "has cost the government all of its credibility" in this case.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 12, 2026
Judge Reyes ordered the administration to halt further tree removal. She later extended the prohibition through October 26 and ordered senior Interior Department officials to testify on Monday, October 19.
National Park Service says it needs to cut more trees
Hours before the motion seeking removal of the judge, the administration filed a separate motion urging her to lift the order blocking further tree removal and “end the drama,” arguing that the court has overstepped its authority.
In that filing, the National Park Service disclosed that its tree-removal project is considerably larger than previously described.
The agency now estimates that about 729 trees could ultimately be removed. This is 200 more than the 529 identified before work began, and approximately 300 trees remain to be cut.
