A federal judge in Washington has ordered the Trump administration to stop tree-cutting and related work at East Potomac Golf Course through October 26, extending an earlier temporary pause and turning a local land-use fight into a closely watched federal court dispute.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is notable not only for the practical effect—halting work at a historic public golf course—but also for the court’s tone.

A federal appeals court has blocked above-ground construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom, preserving a preliminary injunction that prevents the project from moving forward while the administration seeks further review. The decision puts a high-profile spotlight on a basic constitutional question: whether the executive branch can unilaterally authorize a major structural change to the White House complex, or whether Congress must expressly approve it.

The dispute, brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has quickly become more than a fight over one building project.