President Donald Trump is looking to take over another Washington, D.C., entity — something that’s is par for the course with Trump.
The Trump administration sent a notice of default to the National Links Trust, a local public-private nonprofit that oversees overseen and operates the three municipal golf courses is D.C., The Hill reported.
The three golf courses are East Potomac Park, Langston and Rock Creek.
But local golf officials do not want to give up control of the district’s courses.
The trust has managed the golf courses since 2020. That’s when the nonprofit signed a 50-year lease with the National Park Service. The National Park Service reports to the president via the Department of the Interior and owns the land the three courses are on.
The notice was first reported by The Washington Post.
When the lease was signed, golf officials wanted to redesign and renovate the historic sites where the courses are. They plan on using money from private donors and the district government.
The Links Trust has been steadfast in its mission to keep the courses affordable and accessible for golfers
While the notice has been sent, it did not state how the Links Trust is in default.
Given Trump’s action a if late — including adding his name to the Kennedy Center — people are speculating if this is a first step to take over the courses for potential redevelopment. This would lead to Trump permanently leaving his mark on the D.C. golf scene.
“These are historic, important public courses that have a rich history of affordability and access,” Charles Allen, a member of the D.C. council and avid golfer, said. “It concerns me to have the Trump administration terminate the lease for, let’s be honest, made-up reasons. It seems to be about a grab of the land for the wealthy and well connected.”
A source at the National Links Trust said the organization is open to working with the administration to address its concerns.
It said it “respectfully disagree[s] with the characterization that we are in default of our lease.”
“In the five years since signing the lease, National Links Trust has worked hand in hand with the National Park Service through the extensive permitting and compliance processes required for these comprehensive renovation projects,” the organization said.
