Court bans Trump from continuing to cut down trees on golf course

A federal court in the United States temporarily barred President Donald Trump's administration from continuing to cut down trees at the historic East Potomac golf course in Washington. According to the Washington Post on October 12, Judge Ana Reyes considered that further work without restrictions could lead to immediate and irreversible damage.

The reason for the proceedings was a large-scale felling on the territory of the facility. According to the plaintiffs, by October 10, the workers had removed all 529 trees that the authorities had originally planned to cut down. Later it turned out that hundreds of trees could fall under felling.

Defenders of historical heritage also said that among the plants already cut were adult oaks and maples, which were in good condition. According to them, the National Park Service previously assured that healthy trees will be preserved.

The plaintiffs believe that in preparing the reconstruction, the authorities did not assess the total environmental impact of the project and did not conduct the necessary verification of the consequences for the historical landscape. They are seeking a 14-day logging ban and are demanding advance warning of any changes that cannot be reversed.

The Trump administration insists that the work is related to maintenance and restoration of the territory. According to her, these measures are necessary regardless of plans for large-scale reconstruction of the field.

The US president intends to turn the field located in the capital, which has existed for more than a hundred years, into a championship-level venue capable of hosting major tournaments. At the same time, the final project for updating the facility has not yet been submitted.

The injunction introduces temporary restrictions amid a dispute over how the renovation will affect the trees and the historic appearance of the territory.