A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction blocking the U.S. government from closing East Potomac Golf Links, a historic park and golf course located just 2 miles south of the White House.
Legal Challenge Over Park Closure
The case began in February when the DC Preservation League and other groups filed suit challenging proposed development plans for the site. Since then, it has evolved into an ongoing dispute centered on whether the closure violates public interest principles and existing laws governing national parkland use.
In a 30-page decision released Saturday, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes found that the Trump administration's justification for closing the course—citing renovations to address structural hazards—is pretextual. She concluded that the government violated at least two federal statutes by attempting to close a publicly accessible historic space without sufficient legal or factual basis.
Reyes stated: 'The Government proposes to close a historic park, daily enjoyed by Washingtonians of all stripes, indefinitely.' The judge emphasized that the proposed closure runs counter to the public interest in utilizing national parkland and noted that no plausible harm had been demonstrated from preserving current access under temporary restraint.
Trees Cut Without Notice
The dispute intensified in October when National Park Service (NPS) workers began cutting down hundreds of trees on-site—without prior notification to Judge Reyes until 15 hours before work was scheduled to begin. Following this action, Reyes ordered an immediate halt to tree removal and required at least three business days' notice for any future permanent changes to the site.
Trump's Position and Design Claims
In a post shared on Truth Social, President Trump described the existing course as 'Trash Island,' calling it 'old, broken, dilapidated, with falling, dangerous, and disease-infested trees.' He claimed that the seawall is collapsing and hazardous. According to his statement, renovations would transform the space into one of 'the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World,' designed to host world-class tournaments while remaining open to the public.
The administration released a rendering showing the proposed redesign—but no official environmental or structural assessments have been made publicly available to verify these claims.
Investigation Into Legal Conduct
In addition to blocking the closure, Judge Reyes has launched an independent inquiry—led by a special master—to determine whether Department of Justice attorneys misrepresented facts to her court. The investigation focuses on three key issues: whether late notification about renovation plans was done in bad faith; whether false statements were previously made and not corrected; and whether information relevant to the case was withheld from the judiciary.
All public statements attributed here are drawn directly from the judge’s ruling, President Trump's Truth Social post, or official reports cited within the BBC article. No additional sources have been verified beyond these materials. The status of the course remains under judicial review as litigation continues.