During a four-hour hearing, a federal judge demanded answers from the Trump administration about who authorized the removal of hundreds of trees at the East Potomac Golf Links.

© Andrew Leyden for The New York Times

The National Park Service notified a court of the plan as part of continuing litigation over the president’s proposal to create a “champion-level” course.

© Andrew Leyden for The New York Times

A tropical storm was moving through the area when the 90-foot lava rock formation disintegrated, the National Park Service said.