Federal court case complicates plan to close East Potomac golf course

A long-running legal dispute over a public golf course in Washington, D.C., has intensified as the federal government moves to formalize a closure deadline. The Department of the Interior is drafting a plan to close East Potomac Golf Links by Nov. 15, according to senior Justice Department officials.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward confirmed in a court filing that Interior is working to carry out President Trump's recent directives. The president stated on Truth Social that the course would shut temporarily for a complete overhaul. He cited safety, modernization, and aesthetic reasons for the change, noting that architect Tom Fazio has helped develop the new design.

The proposed timeline includes a full closure by mid-November and a reopening in approximately 15 months. This schedule follows a sharp pivot in the administration's public stance. Officials previously described the changes as a possible project without a finalized proposal. The shift occurred after U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes issued a ruling to halt further tree removal at the site.

Reyes ordered the government to stop removing or damaging trees while the litigation continues. This decision came after more than 500 trees were cut down in a single weekend. The judge agreed with challengers, including a local preservation group and two golfers, that the felling was part of the administration's plan for the new course.

In her 70-page ruling, Reyes noted a tension between the president's public statements and the sworn testimony of government employees. She referenced a hearing where Woodward told the court there was no plan to close the course, despite the president's posts about an overhaul. The judge wrote that the case has evolved from a dispute about golf into a broader conflict over government assertions.

The Justice Department has appealed Reyes' decision regarding the tree removal ban. A hearing is scheduled for Friday or Monday to determine how the case will proceed. Plaintiffs have not yet filed a motion to block the Nov. 15 closure date or the subsequent renovation work.