An American federal judge has ordered the temporary ban on logging trees at the historic East Potomac golf field in Washington, where President Donald Trump's administration is targeting a major renovation project.
According to The Washington Post, Judge Anna C. Reyes sharply criticised Justice Department representatives during an emergency hearing Monday, October 12th, after authorities had cut down about 430 trees without the court's due announcement.
Government representatives agreed that another 299 trees were scheduled to be removed from the area.
The judge ordered the ban on logging until Tuesday afternoon, while requesting additional evidence from administration officials to clarify how the decision was made.
According to Reuters, Reyes expressed deep disappointment with the government's actions, stressing that he had repeatedly requested preliminary information about any irreversible intervention in this historic space.
The clash relates to Trump's plans to transform East Potomac Golf Links, a public golf course of about 100 years, into a high-level complex that can host major international tours.
The American president has hired the renowned golf field architect Tom Fazio for the reconstruction project.
However, the D.C. Preservation League and other opponents of the project have filed charges, claiming the administration is taking steps that could harm the environment and historical heritage without completing the necessary legal procedures.
On the other hand, officials of the National Park Service have argued that logging was part of an earlier 2019 plan to restore the original golf field character and not necessarily part of the new Trump project.
But the judge sought to know why such a plan, not implemented for years, had to be carried out urgently over the weekend.
According to the Associated Press, the initial suspension is set for 24 hours, but the court can impose longer-term measures after considering new evidence.
The decision does not ultimately cancel the renovation project. It temporarily forbids logging until the court examines the administration's actions.
The issue is expected to continue in court, while the question remains open whether the project can move forward without violating federal regulations for environmental protection and historical monuments.
