Enraged judge orders freeze after Trump administration cuts down more than 400 trees in Washington, DC’s East Potomac Park

“I have no faith that the government isn’t going to cut them down unless there’s an order in place not to do so,” Reyes said during the emergency hearing, according to the Washington Post.

Reyes told DOJ attorneys they had lost their “credibility,” and warned lawyers for the government that if they violate her order “by two seconds” it would prompt contempt proceedings.

The legal battle

The removal of the trees on the historic site has faced ongoing litigation from the D.C. Preservation League and two golfers who allege the Trump administration is racing ahead with the renovations without doing the proper environmental and preservation reviews.

Government officials testified at the emergency hearing that the plan to remove trees was finalized on Oct. 5 and was approved four days later after going through environmental and legal reviews. DOJ lawyers were supposed to give the court and the plaintiffs notice of major or irreversible work before it began — but the government filed its notice at 4:55 p.m. Friday before the holiday weekend. That’s just 12 hours before crews began downing the trees.

“More than being upset and furious right now, I am just deeply disappointed in the government,” Reyes said during the emergency hearing, according to USA Today. “On what universe ​did anyone in your office think this was acceptable?”

At one point during the hearing, a DOJ lawyer told Reyes that government lawyers “did our best” to notify the courts — but Reyes said the removal of the trees was not urgent and litigants should have been given notice days earlier.

“You did not do your best,” Reyes said, according to the Post. “You did your absolute worst.”

Trump’s renovation plans

The park is one of several renovation projects Trump is undertaking in Washington. The Trump administration is hoping to turn the public course into a professional one — an endeavour that is estimated to cost between $20 million and $49 million, according to CNN.

The plan has angered residents, environmental groups and golfers who worry renovations will impact the environment and take away affordable spaces to play.