[UPDATE] Trump says D.C.'s East Potomac golf course closes Nov. 15 for 15 months, despite court halt

Trump announced a closing date and a designer while his own lawyers told the judge the plans are still preliminary.

Judge Ana Reyes has barred further tree cutting at the course through Oct. 26 while a lawsuit proceeds. After DOJ told her Sunday night, Oct. 18, that the plans are still "preliminary," she ordered two government lawyers to appear in person at an evidentiary hearing on Monday, Oct. 19.

PREVIOUSLY

On Friday evening, Oct. 9, Interior told the court tree cutting would begin the next morning (CNN). Crews cut at least 430 trees on Saturday, Oct. 10, and on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Reyes barred further cutting through Oct. 26 (CBS News).

The plan and the fight:

Golf architect Tom Fazio is designing the rebuild with the Interior Department, and Trump wants the course to host majors.
Associate AG Stanley Woodward argued that redesigning a golf course is no more an agency action than deciding to "mow the lawn."
Trump called the existing course "old, broken, dilapidated, and of no further use," citing "disease infested trees" and a "collapsing and hazardous seawall."