Trump says East Potomac golf course work will begin Nov. 15 amid legal challenge
In short
President Donald Trump said redevelopment of Washington’s East Potomac Golf Links would begin Nov. 15 and take about 15 months. The announcement came amid litigation over the project and the removal of hundreds of trees.
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President Donald Trump said Sunday that redevelopment of East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., would begin Nov. 15 and take about 15 months. In a Truth Social post, he said the Interior Department had worked with golf course architect Tom Fazio on plans for a championship course at the existing site. The announcement came as the proposed overhaul faced a court challenge. [ 3 , 8 ]
Trump said the completed course would remain open to the public while being designed to accommodate tournaments such as the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. CBS News reported that the course would be closed for about 15 months. Trump described the current site as unsafe and its trees as dangerous and diseased; CNN reported that preservation groups dispute his description of the course’s condition. [ 3 , 9 ]
NBC News reported that a preservation group and two Washington residents have challenged the renovation. Following Trump’s announcement, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered the administration to say whether it still intended to argue that there was no final agency action and that the rebuilding plan was preliminary. Justice Department attorneys had argued that plans for a championship course were hypothetical, according to NBC News. [ 8 ]
Reyes restricted further tree removal after hundreds of trees were cut down at the course. Reports differ on the dates of those restrictions: NBC News and CNN describe a pause through Oct. 26, while The Hill gives Oct. 28 and CBS News describes an order through Oct. 16. CNN reported that the administration said in a court filing it intended to remove nearly 730 trees in total, describing the work as routine maintenance to eliminate potential hazards. [ 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
Why it matters
Trump said the rebuilt course would remain open to the public while being designed to host major tournaments. Preservation groups are challenging the redevelopment, and a judge has restricted further tree removal.
Key facts
- Trump said work at East Potomac Golf Links would start Nov. 15 and take about 15 months. [ 3 , 8 ]
- Trump said the Interior Department developed the plan with golf course architect Tom Fazio. [ 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
- Trump said the rebuilt course would be open to the public and designed to host major tournaments. [ 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
- A preservation group and two Washington residents have challenged the renovation in court, NBC News reported. [ 8 ]
- Judge Ana Reyes restricted further tree removal after hundreds of trees were cut down. [ 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The reported end date of restrictions on tree removal differs between outlets. NBC News and CNN give Oct. 26; The Hill gives Oct. 28; CBS News describes an order running through Oct. 16.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CBS News reported Trump’s Nov. 15 construction date and an expected closure of about 15 months. [ 3 ]
- NBC News reported that Reyes sought the administration’s response on whether it still considered the project preliminary after Trump’s announcement. [ 8 ]
- CNN reported a pause on tree removals through Oct. 26 and the administration’s plan to remove nearly 730 trees in total. [ 9 ]