Federal judge reviews Trump's 'Garden of American Heroes' amid tree removal dispute

A federal judge in Washington is weighing a request to block the Trump administration’s plan to build the “National Garden of American Heroes” in West Potomac Park, while the Justice Department defends a mass tree‑removal operation at the nearby Trump National Golf Club as routine maintenance.

The garden was unveiled by former President Donald Trump in May 2023 as a series of statues and plaques honoring a wide range of American figures, from founding fathers to modern icons. Critics say the project violates the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act and the 1968 law that bars new monuments in the park, arguing it turns a public space into a partisan showcase. The location, adjacent to the National Mall, would place the garden in a heavily visited area already crowded with monuments and memorials.

The lawsuit was filed by the National Park Service, the Sierra Club and other environmental groups seeking a preliminary injunction. The Justice Department counters that the garden is a lawful exercise of presidential authority and that the tree removal at the golf course is standard upkeep, not an environmental breach. The judge has already ordered a temporary halt on the tree cutting while hearing arguments. Environmentalists warn that the trees protect the park’s ecosystem and that the garden would further degrade the landscape and limit public access.

A ruling is expected within weeks. If the injunction is granted, construction of the garden will be stalled pending a full hearing that could extend for