Overview
- Judge Ana C. Reyes issued a preliminary injunction on Oct. 26 that halted tree removals at East Potomac and requires at least 10 business days' notice before any irreversible changes.
- The court named former U.S. attorney Jessie K. Liu as special master to review documents and assess whether Justice Department or Interior officials gave misleading statements to the judge.
- The Justice Department tried to withhold the names of Interior staff who worked on the golf plan by citing privacy and threats but the judge ordered the list released and the government provided it late on Thursday.
- The administration has told regulators the park will close Nov. 15 for a government-backed, championship-level renovation, a timeline DOJ acknowledged in court filings that conflicted with earlier assertions and helped trigger the inquiry.
- The suit by the D.C. Preservation League and two golfers seeks to protect public parkland and low-cost access, and the special-master review could produce sanctions, contempt referrals, or delay of the renovation schedule.