Judge blocks Trump from closing Washington DC golf course

Court order halts closure plans

US District Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday. This legal action prevents the government from shutting the historic park and its course indefinitely. The order remains in effect until 28 November while further proceedings continue. Reyes stated that the administration violated federal laws to meet an arbitrary deadline for the closure.

Legal dispute over renovation timeline

The legal fight began in February when the DC Preservation League sued over redevelopment plans. The course sits two miles south of the White House and is run by the National Park Service. In October, the agency cut down hundreds of trees without giving Reyes proper notice until 15 hours before work started. Trump announced the closure would last 15 months starting on 15 November despite the ongoing litigation.

Investigation into government attorneys

Reyes has opened a separate inquiry into whether justice department attorneys made misrepresentations to the court. She is examining if late notice about renovation plans was done in bad faith by the lawyers. An independent third party known as a special master will carry out this specific inquiry. The judge also noted the current course is considered old and broken by the administration.