Judge questions Trump’s golf course overhaul after more than 400 trees removed

A federal judge is considering further restrictions on President Trump's plan to overhaul a historic golf course in Washington, D.C. after the government cut down hundreds of trees there. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes questioned the administration's account of why more than 400 trees were removed from East Potomac Golf Links. She's already blocked further tree cutting through October 26th. Trump wants to close the century-old public course next month and turn it into a championship-level facility. Here's how he described the plan to reporters Monday. You have a golf course there now. It's old, it's tired, it's beaten up, it's useless. It doesn't do much business. We want to do something great for Washington. We're going to basically build a better golf course. You could call it a renovation. It should be very simple, and it's something that the Department of Interior is allowed to do, absolutely. All they want to do is fix up their property. It's been allowed to get run down, bad, dangerous, dirty, lousy, and it's going to be one of the great courses. But opponents say the project violates federal law and could make the public course less accessible. And the judge is questioning why Trump says work is starting immediately, while government lawyers insist there's no final plan. Final plans have also been submitted for his proposed 250-foot-tall Triumphal Arch. The National Capital Planning Commission is expected to review the project early next month.