The Trump administration has announced plans to close most of the East Potomac Park golf course in Washington, D.C., starting November 15, as part of an effort to redevelop the municipal course into a championship-level facility aimed at professional golfers. This development was disclosed in a court filing made on Wednesday in connection with ongoing litigation seeking to block the redevelopment.
The filing marked the federal government’s first formal admission of support for President Donald Trump’s vision to transform the site into a property similar to those operated by the Trump family’s business interests. This shift follows months of government denials that recent activities on the site, including the removal of hundreds of trees earlier this month, were connected to preparations for the planned overhaul.
Last week, Stanley Woodward Jr., the third-ranking official at the Justice Department, appeared before U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes and stated that there was no plan to close the golf course, directly contradicting President Trump’s social media announcements. Judge Reyes subsequently ordered Woodward to return to court for clarification.
In the recent filing, the Justice Department informed the court that it had reached a new lease agreement with the company managing the East Potomac Golf Links, which will relinquish control before the November 15 closure date. The golf course occupies federal land on a peninsula that also includes a public cycling circuit around its perimeter, along with picnic and playground areas at Hains Point on the southern tip.
The plan to close the course before the National Capital Planning Commission has voted on the redevelopment proposal has drawn scrutiny. The administration intends to present a design by golf course architect Tom Fazio to the commission on December 3. The commission’s board includes members appointed by President Trump and has a history of approving the administration’s proposals.
Judge Reyes had recently issued an order blocking further tree removal at the site and required the Justice Department to provide at least 10 days' notice before closing the course. The Justice Department filed its Wednesday notice in compliance with this order but has also appealed the judge’s decision.
The abrupt closure plan follows a pattern in which the Trump administration has moved forward with changes to public Washington landmarks amid unresolved legal challenges. Earlier this year, a federal judge required the Kennedy Center, where President Trump serves as board chair, to keep operating after the board voted to close it for renovations intended to honor the president. The center subsequently limited public access, citing safety concerns.
President Trump, in a social media post on Wednesday, defended the decision to close East Potomac Golf Links, claiming the course had deteriorated to a hazardous state. He warned that Judge Reyes would be held responsible for any injuries or deaths occurring on what he described as a “very dangerous, dilapidated, and unsightly” golf course.