Trump Taps Park Service Fees to Clear Trees at DC Course

The Trump administration has quietly set aside $1.2 million to cut down trees at Washington's East Potomac Golf Links, drawing on visitor fees from marquee parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite, internal records reviewed by the Washington Post show. The money is part of Trump's "D.C. Safe and Beautiful" initiative, which Interior officials say targets "tree overgrowth." Internal Park Service documents show a separate $500,000 request for tree removal listed for 2026. The administration indicated in a court filing Wednesday that it would close the Potomac course on Nov. 15 to allow for the redevelopment, notes the New York Times.

The National Park Service has already removed more than 400 mostly healthy trees, work US District Judge Ana C. Reyes halted with an injunction after finding it was tied to Trump's redevelopment push, not routine maintenance. "This is an incredible misuse of these funds that should be going to improve national parks for Americans, not cut down hundreds of trees," said Ed Stierli of the National Parks Conservation Association. The administration has appealed, arguing that the court is overstepping on executive management of federal land.