A nonprofit organization and two residents of Washington, D.C., have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its effort to overhaul the historic East Potomac Golf Course, according to court records. The legal challenge seeks to stop changes to the more than century-old public golf facility, which is part of East Potomac Park along the Potomac River in the nation’s capital.
The plaintiffs, including the DC Preservation League and residents Dave Roberts and Alex Dickson, argue that the administration’s plan violates a 1897 law that designated the park to be held and used forever “for the recreation and pleasure of the people.” They contend that terminating a lease and moving forward with reconstruction would undermine the park’s long-standing use as a public space and could open the door to environmental harm.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the administration canceled a 50-year lease held by the National Links Trust, which had managed three public golf courses in the city, including East Potomac. The Interior Department said it was ending the lease because it alleged the nonprofit failed to make required investments and meet its obligations, a claim the group disputes. The lawsuit also argues that the proposed changes breach federal environmental laws and could pollute a park listed on the National Register of Historic Places, raising broader concerns about public land stewardship and historic preservation in the U.S. capital.
