WASHINGTON — Federal crews began removing trees Saturday at East Potomac Golf Links, advancing a project that the National Park Service says could involve as many as 529 trees at the historic public course south of the National Mall.
In a court filing Friday, the Park Service said 169 trees would be removed beginning Saturday, with another 90 scheduled for a later phase. The agency described the work as maintenance and historic-landscape restoration, not the implementation of a final redesign.
The work is proceeding while President Donald Trump promotes a separate vision for transforming the 106-year-old course into a venue capable of hosting major professional tournaments. That ambition has alarmed some regular golfers and park users who fear higher fees and a reduction in public recreational space.
The Interior Department said Saturday that the Park Service was carrying out a plan developed seven years ago to address tree overgrowth. It said the work would reopen views toward the Washington Monument, the Potomac River and other landmarks.
According to the government’s court filing, no healthy trees that contribute to the historic golf landscape, including protected historic cherry trees, will be removed as part of the project. The agency said the course would remain open, although individual holes could close temporarily during work.
The DC Preservation League and two local golfers have challenged the administration’s plans in federal court, arguing that major changes to the property require legal and historic-preservation review. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes has scrutinized earlier tree removal but has not imposed a blanket prohibition on routine maintenance.
The Park Service has not released a final construction plan for the proposed championship course. The extent of the tree removal, the precise future layout and the effect on public access remain contested.
