The Trump administration has ended the long-term lease held by the nonprofit National Links Trust (NLT) to manage and operate three historic public golf courses in Washington, D.C., including the Langston Golf Course, Rock Creek Park Golf, and East Potomac Golf Links. The move, announced at the end of December 2025, terminated the 50-year lease agreement that had been signed in 2020 between the National Park Service and the nonprofit organization that sought to renovate and revitalize these municipal courses for public use.
According to the Department of the Interior, the lease was ended because the National Links Trust had failed to implement required capital improvements and meet specific lease obligations within the terms of the agreement. The Interior Department asserted that the nonprofit did not provide adequate plans or assurances to complete the renovation projects within the expected timeline, which led officials to conclude the agreement was in default.
The National Links Trust strongly disagrees with the characterization of its performance. In a statement, the organization described the administration’s decision as devastating and maintained that it consistently complied with the lease terms while investing more than $8.5 million in capital improvements across the three courses. NLT also pointed to increased rounds played and financial performance during its stewardship, arguing that it had worked constructively with the National Park Service on operational and development projects prior to the termination.
Langston Golf Course, one of the properties affected by the lease termination, holds deep historical significance for African American golfers. Built in 1939 during an era when Black players were barred from many private and public courses, Langston has endured as a symbol of resilience and one of the nation’s few remaining accessible links with a rich cultural legacy. The course’s future under direct federal management or potential redevelopment now remains uncertain, raising concerns among community members and advocates for affordable public golf. “My hope is that the historic Langston golf course continues to offer opportunities for people to come and play,” Craig Kirby said to the Washington Informer. Kirby is funder/CEO of Golf. My Future. My Game., a Washington, DC registered 501(c)(3) charity.
The National Links Trust has agreed to continue operating the courses in the short term to avoid abrupt closures while seeking a path forward. However, long-term renovation projects are expected to halt under the new arrangement. The administration’s decision comes amid broader efforts by President Trump to shape civic infrastructure in the capital, a pattern visible in other recent moves to rename or redesign prominent public spaces.
Local golfers and supporters have expressed frustration and worry about the decision’s potential effects on accessibility and community programs. Critics argue that the termination may disrupt initiatives aimed at making golf more affordable and inclusive for residents, especially at historically significant sites like Langston. As the situation develops, stakeholders are watching closely to see how federal oversight may influence the future of these well-loved municipal golf facilities.
