Various federal statutes and regulations state that it is unlawful to willfully destroy, cut, break, injure or remove any tree, shrub or plant within a national military park or land of the United States. The US Code under §1865 National Park Service states that there is a penalty for “offenses relating to structures and vegetation.”

Cherry blossom season has arrived in Washington, D.C., where pink and white flowers dot thousands of trees around the city as this year’s peak bloom approaches.