After a federal judge pushed back against President Donald Trump’s plans for East Potomac Golf Links earlier this week, the administration is moving forward with a project to renovate one of Washington, D.C.’s few public golf courses.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a 70-page opinion on Monday preventing further work at the century-old course, where more than 400 trees were recently removed as part of efforts to convert the public course into a championship venue.
Reyes has said she does not intend to tell the federal government what it can or can’t do to the property, as long as they follow the law. Her order prohibited the administration from continuing to remove trees without first receiving a court order. It also requires at least 10 business days’ written notice before closing the course or making irreversible modifications to the park.
But on Wednesday, Trump’s Department of the Interior filed notice to the DC Preservation League saying that on Nov. 15, the National Park Service “will close East Potomac Park south of Buckeye Drive, including the Golf Course, consistent with the President’s directive.”
The document, filed by U.S. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, said that the National Park Service plans on Friday to submit a rendering of the new 18-hole course being designed by architect Tom Fazio.
The Department of Justice has also appealed Reyes’ preliminary injunction over further tree removal.
Previously, Woodward told Reyes at a hearing that there “is no plan to close the course” on Nov. 15 even though Trump had posted about just that multiple times on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Before the administration became involved with the course, it was a standard, 36-hole golf course accessible to residents, with fees, according to Golf.com, topping out at $48.
Trump wants East Potomac to become a “World Class” championship-level course capable of hosting marquee events like the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. He has said the course would close for 15 months to allow for the renovation.
