The National Park Service will remove more than 500 trees ‘that do not contribute to the historic landscape’ from a golf course Trump is redesigning

The National Park Service is removing more than 500 trees from a historic golf course near the National Mall as part of a renovation project to transform it into a championship-level course, according to a court filing from the National Park Service. The trees, which do not contribute to the historic landscape, will be removed starting on Saturday, with an additional 90 trees set for removal at a later date.

The National Park Service stated that no healthy trees contributing to the historical character of the golf course, including historic cherry trees, will be removed. The tree removals follow President Donald Trump's efforts to turn the course into a world-class golf venue, part of his broader vision for Washington, D.C. Some residents are concerned that the planned changes to the golf course, where Trump has visited with officials and viewed blueprints, could alter the character of a place that has served Washingtonians for over a century and potentially result in higher fees and lost public space.

The Interior Department, which oversees the park service, said the removals are part of a 7-year-old plan to address tree overgrowth at East Potomac Golf Course, aimed at restoring the course's historic character and reopening views toward landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the Washington Channel. The golf course remains open to the public during the renovation, although temporary closures may occur for individual holes.

The golf course has been the subject of a lawsuit since February, with plaintiffs, including the DC Preservation League, arguing that the Trump administration's reconstruction would violate the congressional statute that created the park in 1897.