Washington’s historic East Potomac golf course could lose up to 529 trees, with 169 slated for removal starting October 10; officials call it maintenance as a lawsuit challenges the park’s possible redesign

Washington’s historic East Potomac Golf Links is facing another round of tree removals as the Trump administration weighs a potential overhaul of the century-old public golf course. According to reporting by The Washington Post and Axios, the National Park Service (NPS) has defended the clearing as maintenance, even as preservationists and park users question whether the work could pave the way for a larger redevelopment. In a court filing reported on October 9, the government disclosed plans to remove 169 trees in the first phase of the latest operation, followed by another 90 in a subsequent phase. The total number of trees potentially affected could reach 529, adding to the removals that have already drawn public scrutiny.The development comes amid a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s proposal to transform the public course into a championship-level golfing destination. Despite earlier indications that construction could begin in September, the administration has yet to publish a final design, a detailed budget or a timeline for closing the facility. The course remains open to golfers.The first phase of the latest operation began on October 10, according to subsequent reporting by the Associated Press. The Park Service maintains that the trees selected for removal do not contribute to the property’s historic landscape and says the work will not change the course’s holes, routing, greens, bunkers or landforms. Officials have also indicated that healthy trees recognised as historic features, including significant cherry trees, will be preserved. The agency has described the operation as an effort to address neglected maintenance and restore the landscape’s historic character. It is also moving ahead with the work independently of any final decision on the proposed redesign, leaving the broader future of the course unresolved.

A legal fight over the course’s future

The tree-cutting comes amid a lawsuit brought by two golfers and the D.C. Preservation League against the Interior Department and the National Park Service. The plaintiffs argue that the proposed redevelopment should undergo the required environmental review and public consultation before work proceeds.The dispute has already reached federal court. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes previously declined to halt the earlier removals, allowing the government to continue routine maintenance while the case proceeds. The court has nevertheless sought advance notice of significant activity at the site, including the removal of more than 10 trees or the use of large equipment.The government maintains that the current clearing is separate from the proposed transformation. The plaintiffs, however, argue that treating preliminary work as maintenance risks allowing changes to the property before the larger proposal has undergone the necessary scrutiny.

Park users raise concerns over public access

The debate extends beyond the golf course itself. East Potomac Park is used by cyclists, runners, families, anglers and other visitors who value its open recreational spaces. Among the concerns is the future of Ohio Drive, the popular loop around Hains Point that forms part of the area’s appeal for people who do not play golf.As Axios reported in August, park advocates have organised demonstrations and gathered thousands of petition signatures calling for greater transparency around the administration’s plans. Critics fear that a championship-oriented redevelopment could change the character of a facility long used by the wider public.The administration has yet to provide a final design, a confirmed project cost or a comprehensive construction schedule. It has also not clarified what changes, if any, would affect surrounding park users. For now, the immediate tree-clearing operation is moving ahead while the proposed overhaul remains under evaluation. The central dispute is whether the work represents overdue upkeep of a historic public facility or an early step towards a transformation whose full implications have yet to be made public.