Christine Drews Sieger
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s plan to shut down and redesign a historic public golf course in Washington, D.C.
A high-stakes battle over the future of public space in Washington, D.C., has reached a temporary standstill after a federal court intervened to stop an ambitious redevelopment of East Potomac Park.
In October, President Donald Trump announced plans on social media to close the historic waterfront grounds for 15 months.
His goal is to transform the municipal facility into “one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World,” capable of hosting premier tournaments like the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Open.
However, just ahead of the scheduled Sunday closure, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes froze the project. In a 30-page ruling reported by The Guardian, Reyes blocked the federal government from shutting down the site.
The judge, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden—and whom Trump has publicly dismissed as a “lunatic”—determined that officials violated at least two federal laws “to meet an arbitrary deadline.”
She rejected the administration’s official justifications as “pretextual,” emphasizing that Washingtonians of all backgrounds rely on the park daily.
Preservationists Push Back
The legal challenge was mounted by the DC Preservation League and two local residents, represented by the legal group Democracy Forward.
Plaintiffs contend that turning the grounds into an elite championship venue will fundamentally alter its character and price out everyday golfers—a claim Trump has denied, maintaining the course would remain open to the public.
Democracy Forward welcomed the decision, saying it stopped “another one of the president’s vanity projects.”
Senior legal adviser Catherine Carroll added that the administration’s plan “would have taken away a treasured park that could never be replaced.”
Located near the Jefferson Memorial, the 36-hole complex currently serves as a multi-use hub featuring mini-golf and a paved loop for runners and cyclists.
While Reyes noted the government is not required to maintain golf operations, she ruled officials “cannot use the absence of golf operations as a reason to exclude the public,” according to The Guardian.
Escalating Courtroom Friction
The dispute has sparked sharp clashes between the bench and government attorneys.
Last month, Reyes stated that the unannounced removal of hundreds of trees “has cost the government all of its credibility,” prompting her to order an ethics investigation into whether Justice Department lawyers misled the court regarding the closure timeline.
Government attorneys responded by accusing Reyes of overstepping her authority and unsuccessfully demanded her recusal.
The ruling adds to a growing list of legal hurdles facing Trump’s broader push to reshape the capital, including contested plans for a White House ballroom and a monumental arch.
The White House, Justice Department, and Interior Department did not immediately respond to The Guardian’s requests for comment.
