A federal judge ruled the Trump administration can proceed with maintenance work at the East Potomac Golf Course but said it can’t shut down the course or overhaul it without prior notice.
The Washington Post and digital news outlet NOTUS reported Saturday the administration would take over the course Monday and start renovations. The Post says it obtained a fundraising pitch for the project with renderings of the course turned into a championship golf course.
Over the weekend, DC Preservation League filed an emergency motion to try to stop it.
Monday a federal judge told the administration, it must give reasonable notice if it plans to close the golf course, bring in construction equipment or cut down more than 10 trees.
“This is supposed to be open to the public and accessible to the public of every different background, and we wanted to keep it that way,” DC Preservation League Executive Director Rebecca Miller said.
In a court filing Monday morning, the superintendent for the National Mall and Memorial Parks submitted pictures from East Potomac Golf Course buildings — things like rotting wood, hanging wires and roof damage — saying they demonstrate the need for repair work.
The judge told the administration it can proceed with maintenance work but must get proper approval before major projects or closure.
Some golfers told News4 they hope the courses don’t become exclusive or expensive.
“It’s a nice place to come,” Steve Reisch said. “It’s handy, it’s convenient and it’s inexpensive. It’s a nice place for the people around here.”
“The courses, they could definitely use an upgrade, I agree, but the challenge is to upgrade and keep it affordable for the people in the District,” Andrew White said.
The nonprofit group National Links Trust originally had a 50-year lease through 2070 to manage D.C.’s three public golf courses. The Trump administration ended its lease in early January, accusing them of not fixing up the courses or paying rent in certain years.
The Trust repeatedly pushed back, saying it’s spent more than $8 million fixing the courses and that they’ve “consistently complied with all lease obligations.”
News4 reached out to the Department of the Interior multiple times for comment but has not heard back.
Now, about that huge pile of dirt…
Still up in the air is what to do with a pile of dirt from the White House ballroom project that was dumped on the course.
Associated PressAssociated Press
Pile of dirt from White House ballroom project at East Potomac Golf Course
DC Preservation League says data from the federal government shows some of the soil is toxic with substances like lead and arsenic.
The Trump administration pushed back in court filings, saying they disagree with how the Preservation League interpreted the test results.
“In an earlier filing on the ballroom, they contended that one of the reasons they had to demolish the East Wing was because it was full of contaminants, and now they’re saying, ‘Well, there’s no contaminants’ or ‘Nothing to see here,’” Miller said.
“This is something that’s used by the public and children and could be really, could be really hazardous,” she said.