By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - A US judge said on Monday that she was "furious" with Justice Department lawyers for their conduct in a lawsuit seeking to halt the Trump administration's takeover of a historic golf ‌course in Washington, saying it was "inexcusable" that hundreds of trees were removed from the course over the weekend.

"More ‌than being upset and furious right now, I am just deeply disappointed in the government," US District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington told government lawyers during ​a court hearing. "On what universe did anyone in your office think this was acceptable?"

Reyes said the abrupt removal of about 500 trees at East Potomac Golf Links, which began on Friday afternoon, was unacceptable because in May she had demanded that the government provide advance notice of any substantive construction work at the golf course.

The Justice Department's failure...