US District Judge Ana Reyes on Monday ordered a 24-hour suspension of tree-cutting at the East Potomac Golf Course, a historic golf course in Washington, DC, that is part of President Donald Trump's plans to transform the city.

Reyes issued the order after a tense three-hour hearing during which she sharply criticised the government for misleading her through its actions over the holiday weekend.

The judge said the temporary order could be extended to 14 days if necessary. She limited it to 24 hours while the government seeks to locate a key Trump administration official who can explain why extensive tree-cutting at the park had to take place over the holiday weekend with little notice to the plaintiffs seeking to block the renovation plans or to the judge.

The hearing began with a forceful 15-minute statement from Reyes, who has repeatedly rejected requests from the plaintiffs to suspend the administration's work, amid concerns that the government appeared determined to proceed with projects despite court proceedings.

“I am thoroughly unamused right now,” Reyes said. “I do not know how I could have made it any plainer that I did not want what was to happen, to happen.”

She added, “I have given the government every single benefit of the doubt that it would not do precisely what it has done.”

The emergency hearing, held on a holiday, was expanded as Reyes ordered the government to bring various people involved in the decision-making process into the proceedings remotely.