Trump officials scramble to pass blame as judge explodes in anger

Court proceedings began at 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C., where the National Park Service and President Donald Trump's administration were hauled in to explain why they violated another federal judge's order.

The administration has refused to comply with orders in New Jersey (more than 50 times), Minnesota, Rhode Island, Illinois and several in Washington, D.C.

So, when it happened again over the weekend, Judge Ana Rayes was understandably irate. Now she's on the hunt for who is to blame and who could be held in contempt.

AlterNet reported that officials at NPS were told to appear and testify immediately at the morning court session, which normally wouldn't be happening on a federal holiday.

The ordeal centers on a dispute over historic cherry blossoms planted at Hains Point in East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. Trump wants to build a new golf course there.

Circling the island are two rows of pink cherry blossom trees. They're on each side of a walking and biking path. As the petals began to fall in late spring, runners and cyclists were treated to a confetti of beauty around them.

Hundreds of those cherry blossoms have been removed, and the administration was told not to remove them. They were also told not to do any more advanced construction work other than regular maintenance as the lawsuits work their way through the courts. If something major were to be done, the NPS had to inform the court.

The administration ignored that demand this weekend. They flagged it for the judge at 4:55 p.m. on the Friday before the holiday weekend. The following day they began removing hundreds of trees. In total, they plan to remove 729 to restore the golf course to how it was "intended" in the 1920s. That claim is unusual as Trump has said that it will be an official PGA course that can hold tournaments.

The trees were planted from 1910 to 1912, before the golf course was built.

Former CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane reported from inside the courthouse in Washington, where he watched as a parade of officials came through to answer questions directly from the judge.

Deputy director of the National Park Service, Frank Lands, was named as the person who ordered the tree removal to begin on Saturday. He was ordered immediately to court while the judge questioned others.

Park Service supervisor Kevin Greiss answered questions, confessing that the "discussions began on Oct. 6 at 5:39 p.m." about the tree removal.

According to MacFarlane, "she's livid that the court and plaintiffs weren't notified til PM on Oct. 9."

Once Lands began testifying Monday afternoon, it became clear he knew the trees would be removed on Oct. 5.

As the proceeding entered its third hour, Judge Reyes asked who made the final decision to rush the tree removal on a Saturday during a holiday weekend.

Lands, the deputy director of the National Park Service, was asked who gave the directive. He named the deputy chief of staff to the Department of the Interior. Kate MacGregor previously held that post and was recently promoted to deputy secretary.

Lands then said the full Department of the Interior called a meeting on Oct. 5 to discuss it.

"And there it is," MacFarlane wrote on X, updating followers on the situation. "Judge Reyes demands to get testimony from deputy chief of staff of Dept. of Interior. The buck is being passed... and Reyes is following the buck."

Lands said he was told to implement the plans, including the tree toppling on Oct. 5, and to do it "as soon as practical." The judge asked what that meant, and he said he didn't know.

"Judge Reyes has just ordered deputy director of National Park Service to retain all communications about the East Potomac Golf Course... and orders they ensure records are not destroyed," MacFarlane explained. She also wants notes from the meetings saved as well.

She then asked how much the tree removal would cost, and he said he couldn't even give her a ballpark figure.

The judge also asked why the work needed to be done so quickly, and he said he didn't know that either.

Where things might get fishy is that Lands also testified under oath that "there was some discussion with White House staff about the golf course project," about three months ago.

That's when the judge asked if a Trump administration lawyer had tracked down the deputy director of the Interior Department to come into the hearing. She was told that the deputy couldn't be reached.

"It's a holiday," the person said.

"Oh, I'm well aware it's a holiday," the judge said.

While the judge isn't yelling quite as much as she was this morning, the anger is still bubbling. They've since taken a break as the courtroom regroups, said MacFarlane.