Trump Criticizes DC Golf Course Ahead of Planned Renovation

A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from closing East Potomac Park and its public golf course for a planned 15-month redevelopment, ordering the course and surrounding recreational areas to remain open to the public through Nov. 28. Judge Ana Reyes said the administration’s claims that urgent safety repairs and the golf operator’s departure required closure appeared likely to be pretexts for carrying out President Donald Trump’s redevelopment directive. She also cited the likelihood that officials bypassed required environmental review and public-comment procedures. The order does not require the government to operate the course. A preservation group and local golfers brought the case, arguing the overhaul would alter the course’s character and make it less accessible; the administration’s next steps remain uncertain.