The testimony followed Reyes's refusal earlier in the hearing to back down from questioning senior officials with personal knowledge of the project's implementation, after she cited Trump's recent Truth Social posts as a "strong showing of bad faith in this case." Reyes said hearing from the officials would help her determine whether the government "has been accurate and forthcoming in its litigation position" after Justice Department lawyers argued Sunday night that Trump's newly unveiled plan to close the course on Nov. 15 for a 15 month rebuild by architect Tom Fazio was not final.
Earlier Monday, Reyes denied a recusal motion filed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and ordered him to explain in a brief by 3 p.m. why she could not ask other Justice Department lawyers in the courtroom whether they were willing to sign his Sunday night filing. Hours before the hearing began, Trump attacked Reyes as a "crazed lunatic" on Truth Social and declared that the government did not need her approval to begin renovations "immediately," despite her temporary restraining order halting tree removal at the park through Oct. 26 after crews cut down 430 trees.