Judge Ana Reyes admonishes Trump administration lawyers over insufficient notice for East Potomac Park tree removal

A U.S. district judge on Monday admonished lawyers for the Trump administration after trees were cut down in East Potomac Park over the weekend without what the judge said was sufficient notice to the court. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, speaking during a hearing, said she was “beyond disappointed” with the government’s conduct and that she had relied on assurances from the administration’s legal team.

Reyes said she “trusted you all not to do precisely what you have done,” according to reporting on the exchange. The case concerns the administration’s actions connected to the removal of trees in East Potomac Park, a prominent area near the National Mall used for events and public access.

According to the reporting, the tree cutting involved “hundreds of trees,” and it occurred prior to the administration’s communication to the court. The judge’s remarks focused on the timing and adequacy of notice rather than on a final merits ruling in the underlying dispute, the report indicates.

The federal government’s position, as reflected in the court proceedings described by The Hill, centered on the administration’s decision to remove the trees and its handling of court communications related to the action. Reyes’s admonishment indicates the court viewed the lack of notice as a breakdown in the process for managing actions that could affect the subject of litigation.

The East Potomac Park tree removal has drawn scrutiny from challengers who argued the administration should have provided earlier notice before cutting down trees, according to the reporting. The judge’s comments report that the court expects parties, including government litigants, to follow the procedural expectations that preserve the court’s ability to oversee disputes while orders or negotiations are pending.

What happens next depends on how the court addresses the government’s conduct in the continuing case. The admonishment underscores that, even where an agency may pursue land management or other public works activities, federal courts can require adherence to notice and case-management practices during active litigation.