A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to explain who authorized the removal of hundreds of trees at the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C.
The order came during a four-hour hearing on Monday. The judge pressed government lawyers for details on the chain of command behind the tree clearing.
The removals took place at a public golf course along the Potomac River. The site is operated under a contract with the National Park Service.
Government attorneys could not immediately identify who approved the work. The judge called the lack of records troubling.
The case is part of a broader legal fight over changes to the federally owned property. Preservation groups argue the tree removal violated environmental rules.
The judge gave the administration a deadline to produce documents and names. A follow-up hearing is expected later this month.
The East Potomac course remains open, though the cleared areas have changed the landscape. Local advocates say they will keep pressing for accountability.
