A federal judge has ordered a temporary suspension of any work at a historic Washington public golf course, marking the latest setback for US President Donald Trump's ambition to transform it into a championship-level course. US District Judge Ana Reyes issued a 30-page decision, temporarily blocking the federal government from proceeding with a plan that would have closed East Potomac Park on Sunday.
President Trump had stated in an 18 October social media post that the closure would last 15 months, aiming to convert the park's golf offerings into "one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World." However, Judge Reyes ruled that the administration's stated reasons for closing the park were "pretextual" and that the government had violated at least two federal laws "to meet an arbitrary deadline."
The lawsuit was brought by the DC Preservation League, a historic preservation group, which argues that Trump's plan would alter the character and affordability of the accessible golf course. While the park, located near the Jefferson Memorial, must remain open, the judge noted that the Trump administration is not required to maintain golf operations at the site. However, the government "cannot use the absence of golf operations as a reason to exclude the public."
This ruling is the latest instance of the federal judiciary pushing back against President Trump's efforts to redesign the nation's capital through major construction projects. Judge Reyes has also ordered an ethics investigation into whether government lawyers have misled her regarding the timeline for the park's closure.