Two golfers in Washington, DC, have filed a lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from taking over a public golf course.
Last month, the administration terminated the federal government’s lease agreement with the nonprofit National Links Trust (NLT) for three public golf courses in Washington. The lease took effect in October 2020 and was designed to run 50 years, with the NLT tasked with the management, operation and improvement of East Potomac Park, Langston, and Rock Creek Park Golf Courses.
13WHAM.com reports the new lawsuit focuses on the 18-hole East Potomac Park golf course, which opened in 1923 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lawsuit accuses the administration of violating the congressional act that created the park in 1897 as a site for the “recreation and the pleasure of the people.”
The administration is also accused of violating violated the National Environmental Policy Act by dumping debris from the demolition of the East Wing of the White House onto the golf course.
“East Potomac Golf Links is a testament to what’s possible with public land and why public spaces matter,” said Washington resident and plaintiff Dave Roberts. “It deserves better than becoming a dumping ground for waste and yet another private playground for the privileged and powerful.”
While the Department of the Interior declined to comment directly on the lawsuit, a spokesperson said it would “ensure these courses are safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable and accessible for people visiting the greatest capital city in the world which is in line with President Trump’s agenda.”
