Tree Removal Begins at East Potomac Golf Course Amid Renovation Dispute

On October 10, crews from the National Park Service (NPS) started a new phase of tree cutting at the East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C. The filing indicates that 169 trees were removed that day, with an additional 90 slated for later removal. The NPS filing also notes that up to 529 trees could be eliminated as part of a routine-maintenance plan aimed at reducing potential hazards on the public course.

CNNPark service could remove more than 500 trees at historic golf course Trump wants to redesign

The tree work occurs while the Trump administration pursues a broader plan to redesign the historic 106-year-old course into a “championship-caliber” venue. President Donald Trump has promoted the project on social media, suggesting the course could eventually host major tournaments such as the U.S. Open and the Ryder Cup. The renovation effort has been challenged in federal court by the DC Preservation League and other plaintiffs, who argue that the redesign would violate the 1897 congressional act that created the park. The lawsuit, filed in February, seeks to halt any work that could alter the historic landscape.

Park service could remove more than 500 trees at historic golf course Trump wants to redesign

NPS superintendent Kevin Griess clarified that the tree-management project is separate from any future redesign, stating it will proceed regardless of later renovation decisions. The agency also estimated the preliminary cost of the redesign at $20 million to $49 million and indicated that bids for the project are expected in January 2027.

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• “The planned tree management and cultural landscape rehabilitation project is not a renovation or redesign of the Golf Course, is not a part of any potential project to redesign or renovate the Golf Course, and would be carried out irrespective of any future renovation or redesign,” — Kevin Griess

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