Independent report
WASHINGTON: A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to close and redevelop a historic public golf course in Washington, DC, ordering the administration to keep the surrounding park accessible to the public while a legal challenge proceeds.
US District Judge Ana Reyes issued a temporary restraining order on Saturday, November 14, preventing the government from closing East Potomac Park and its golf course as scheduled on November 15. The order will remain in effect until November 28 or until further direction from the court.
The ruling came shortly before the planned closure of the facility for a 15-month redevelopment project. Trump had announced that the existing golf course would be renovated and transformed into a championship-level facility, citing safety, modernisation and aesthetic improvements.
The proposed redevelopment would replace the existing three golf courses, comprising 36 holes, and a miniature golf facility with a single 18-hole championship course designed to host major international tournaments.
The legal challenge was brought by the DC Preservation League and two local golfers, who argued that the proposed changes would fundamentally alter the character of the historic public facility and make it less affordable for ordinary residents.
In her ruling, Judge Reyes questioned the administration’s justification for closing the entire park, describing its stated reasons as pretextual. She also raised concerns that the government had failed to follow required legal procedures before moving ahead with the closure.
The judge clarified that the order does not require the government to continue golf operations or appoint a new operator, but it must maintain public access to the park during its usual opening hours. Limited restrictions may be imposed where specific and immediate safety risks exist.
Trump criticised the ruling on social media, arguing that the decision would prevent his administration from improving the golf course. He also pledged a 50 per cent discount on rates for residents of the Washington area once the renovated facility becomes operational.
The redevelopment dispute is part of wider legal challenges concerning major projects backed by Trump in the US capital. The case has also involved disagreements between the judge and government lawyers over the administration’s handling of earlier work at the historic park, including the removal of hundreds of trees.
The latest order represents a setback for the administration’s immediate redevelopment plans, although it does not prevent the government from pursuing the project through the required legal and regulatory procedures.
