A senior House Democrat has called on congressional leaders to block federal funding aimed at transforming East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., into a championship golf course and to prevent any transfer of the public land to President Donald Trump, his family, or their business interests. Rep. Jared Huffman of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, submitted his request on Thursday, urging the inclusion of restrictions in upcoming year-end spending legislation.

Huffman linked the Trump administration’s plan to repair the park’s deteriorating seawall with the proposed redevelopment of the East Potomac Golf Course. He emphasized in his appeal that funds allocated for seawall repairs should not be diverted to support broader remodeling efforts, which would include course redesigns and land alterations.

The administration has announced it will close the existing East Potomac Golf Course on November 15 as it advances its plans to build a championship-level course designed by golf architect Tom Fazio. In a court filing earlier this week, federal officials highlighted long-standing structural issues with the park’s seawall, which surrounds the peninsula and poses safety hazards. Citing these concerns, the National Park Service intends to close areas of the park south of Buckeye Drive starting next month.

The Trump administration is requesting $500 million in construction funds for the National Park Service, which would include targeted restoration work on the East Potomac seawall as well as repairs to the World War II Memorial. Huffman’s proposed restrictions would allow routine maintenance and seawall repairs within the existing footprint but would prohibit federal money from being used for redesigning or expanding the golf course, modifying roads, removing healthy trees, erecting new structures, or reshaping the landscape.

Additionally, the legislative language Huffman supports would block any potential sale or transfer of East Potomac Park and bar agreements that might confer an interest in the property to Trump, his relatives, or their enterprises, although the administration has not indicated any intention to sell the land.

Rep. Huffman stated that Congress should leverage its funding authority to “close the door on a land sale,” signaling opposition to plans that could benefit the President’s private business interests through public land redevelopment.