Par for the course: Trump forging ahead with DC golf course makeover without input from oversight agencies

East Potomac Golf Course Renovation Proceeds Amid Regulatory Concerns

A Pattern of Action Before Approval

Par for the course – When President Donald Trump envisions a significant undertaking or modification within Washington, DC, a consistent approach has become evident: proceed first and address inquiries afterward. This methodology has surfaced repeatedly throughout his presidency, from the contentious “triumphal arch” proposal to the East Wing ballroom expansion and the ongoing work at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Each initiative has generated substantial public reaction alongside multiple legal challenges.

Now, the verdant pathways of a manmade peninsula situated immediately south of the National Mall represent the latest endeavor in Trump’s vision to reshape the nation’s capital according to his preferences. The administration appears determined to advance with transforming the 300-acre East Potomac Park and its existing public golf facility into a premier championship venue, doing so without securing necessary endorsements from two critical oversight bodies responsible for DC public spaces.

According to representatives from both organizations, neither the National Capital Planning Commission nor the Commission on Fine Arts has received any golf course proposals from the Trump administration for evaluation. Both agencies do not convene during August, yet construction is anticipated to commence by the beginning of the subsequent month. Officials at each organization noted that projects of comparable scope and ambition typically demand several months of regulatory examination covering environmental considerations, historical preservation matters, planning frameworks, and design elements.

Legal Challenges and New Disclosures

On Friday, the administration submitted additional documentation to a federal judge managing a legal challenge concerning the project. This submission contained a significant admission: the government failed to complete soil testing from the demolition of the East Wing before concluding that the material deposited onto the golf course was safe for use.

This disclosure creates opportunities for plaintiffs to cross-examine administration officials under oath. The DC Preservation League alongside two local golfers are urging US District Judge Ana Reyes to issue a directive preventing the Trump administration from continuing with the project.

“There is really this ability to ignore regulatory guardrails, rules and protocols that have existed in the past. And we just see it again and again, and the golf course, sadly, is yet another example of that,” said Charles Birnbaum of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, which has filed lawsuits against several other Trump projects.

Project Timeline and Details

Last month, Trump announced via Truth Social that renovations to East Potomac Golf Links would commence on September 1. The Interior Department, which manages the project as it sits on National Service land, has not responded to CNN’s inquiries regarding when or whether they will pursue formal approval.

“President Donald J. Trump is fulfilling his commitment to make D.C. Safe and Beautiful as shown by the working fountains, clean parks and safe streets across the district for the first time in decades,” a spokesperson stated.

The agency further emphasized its dedication to “continuing the relationships we have built with the local golf communities to ensure these courses are safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable, accessible, and world-class for people living in and visiting the greatest capital city in the world.”

From Proposal to Blueprint

Trump, an enthusiastic golfer, initially revealed his intention to acquire and enlarge the municipal golf course in May. During that same month, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum presented a visualization of the anticipated renovations created by Fazio Design, a consultancy established by renowned golf architect Tom Fazio. Fazio previously designed Trump’s Bedminster golf course and three additional properties belonging to the president.

The Links currently provides two nine-hole courses alongside one 18-hole course. Burgum shared on X with a rendering of the proposed upgrades: “Like iconic public courses of Bethpage Black & Torrey Pines, East Potomac will offer locals — of the National Capital Region — championship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates.” The visualization depicted one nine-hole course while maintaining the 18-hole course and existing recreational area and playground.

Subsequently, Trump, Burgum, and Fazio were captured walking the course together on a rainy Sunday in June, carrying blueprints. Although these plans have not yet been released to the public, they appeared to be revised and more comprehensive, featuring a fuller acquisition of the entire peninsula. The playground, recreational area, and the 9-hole ranges frequently utilized by less experienced players have been removed in favor of a single 18-hole course.