D.C. Golf Course Faces Closure Deadline

The Department of the Interior is preparing to close East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., by Nov. 15. Senior Justice Department officials confirmed the timeline in a court filing on Wednesday. This action follows two recent posts by President Trump regarding the site's future.

President Trump stated on Truth Social that the historic course will shut temporarily for a redesign. He cited competitive, safety, modernization, and aesthetic reasons for the overhaul. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward acknowledged these posts in a brief filed with the U.S. district court. Woodward wrote that Interior is developing a plan to carry out the direction and will notify the court.

The legal battle over the course dates back several months. A local preservation group and two golfers challenged the administration's plans. The property has been open to the public since 1920. Administration officials previously described the renovation as a possible project rather than a finalized proposal.

This month, President Trump announced that Secretary Doug Burgum and architect Tom Fazio developed a plan for a world-class championship course. He said the current course would close on Nov. 15 to allow work to begin. The new course is expected to open in roughly 15 months.

The announcement followed a ruling by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes. She moved to stop tree removal after more than 500 trees were cut down in a single weekend. On Monday, Reyes issued a decision barring the government from removing or damaging any trees while litigation continues. She agreed with challengers that the felling was part of the new course plan.

In her 70-page ruling, Reyes criticized the Justice Department's previous stance. She noted that the department rarely urges a federal court not to believe the sitting president. Earlier in the month, Woodward told the court there was no plan to close the course despite the president's posts. Reyes wrote that the case has evolved beyond golf to reconcile presidential assertions with sworn government testimony.

The Justice Department has appealed Reyes' decision. A court hearing is scheduled for Friday or Monday to address how the case proceeds. The plaintiffs have not yet filed a motion to block the closure and subsequent overhaul.