The Department of the Interior announced an agreement that provides National Links Trust (NLT) with a new long-term lease at Langston Golf Course and Rock Creek Park Golf in Washington, DC, while enabling the organization to continue operating East Potomac Golf Links until the National Park Service can begin a restoration at the site.
In late 2025, the Trump administration terminated the federal government’s lease agreement with the nonprofit NLT for the three public golf courses. The leases were in effect since October 2020 and were designed to run 50 years, with the NLT tasked with the management, operation and improvement of the courses.
It was unclear whether President Trump was eyeing the properties for his company, which owns and operates golf courses and golf resorts. The DC Preservation League and two DC residents filed a lawsuit in February to prevent the administration’s takeover of the courses.
In a statement, NLT co-founders Mike McCartin and Will Smith welcomed the new agreement.
“This agreement clears the path for NLT to resume the transformative work we began five years ago,” they said, adding, “We thank President Trump for reaching an agreement that keeps Washington, DC’s three public golf courses open, welcoming, and affordable community gathering places for DC residents and all golfers. We look forward to continuing providing our expertise in operating and managing these beloved and historic courses and to making DC proud.”
0 Comments