Debris from the recent demolition of the White House’s East Wing, deposited at the nearby East Potomac Golf Links, has tested positive for lead, chromium, and other toxic metals, according to an interim report released by the National Park Service. The report, prepared by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., also identified polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, petroleum byproducts, and various chemical contaminants in the soil at levels exceeding laboratory reporting limits.
The East Potomac Golf Links, a historic course located approximately two miles southeast of the White House, has been the site of extensive soil deposition since October. By April, more than 810,000 cubic feet of excavated soil from the East Wing demolition had been transported to the site. The Park Service commissioned the engineering study amid mounting concerns over environmental safety and historic preservation.
The dumping of demolition debris has drawn sharp criticism from the nonprofit DC Preservation League, which has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The league contends that the disposal of potentially hazardous materials on the public golf course violates federal laws and risks public health. The group’s lawsuit is one of several legal challenges addressing the administration’s broader efforts to modify public spaces in Washington, including plans to renovate the golf course into a professional-level facility, as well as controversial initiatives involving the Kennedy Center and the proposed construction of a large triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
Interior Department officials, responsible for overseeing the National Park Service, defended the project in a statement Tuesday, asserting that soil samples were tested multiple times by various independent entities and that all applicable legal standards were met. The department emphasized that public safety remained a priority throughout the process but declined to comment further on ongoing litigation.
Rebecca Miller, executive director of the DC Preservation League, indicated that experts were still reviewing the engineering report's findings. She raised additional concerns regarding the administration’s compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, noting the potential impact of the renovation plans on the historic character of the golf course, which dates back more than a century. Miller also described how the volume of debris has become an obstacle for golfers using the course.
Federal Judge Ana Reyes addressed the dispute during a virtual hearing Monday, cautioning the government against removing more than ten trees on the golf course without prior notification. Although the judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order at this time, she warned that any significant changes undertaken without adequate notice would face strict judicial scrutiny. At the hearing, Kevin Griess, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks division, indicated there was no immediate intention to remove trees.
Democracy Forward, a legal organization representing the Preservation League, called for increased examination of the administrative handling of toxic materials in East Potomac Park. Their statement characterized the debris as a “cocktail of contaminants” that continued to be deposited despite warning signs revealed in test results.
The litigation highlights ongoing tensions over environmental safety, historic preservation, and public land use amid the Trump administration’s ambitious redevelopment plans in the nation’s capital.