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By Hannah Parry
Associate News Editor
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A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from closing a historic Washington, D.C., park and golf course, ruling that the government's stated reasons for shutting down the property were likely a pretext for advancing President Donald Trump's plans to redevelop the site.
In a temporary restraining order issued Saturday, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes barred the Department of the Interior (DOI) and National Park Service (NPS) from closing East Potomac Park and East Potomac Golf Course to the public, halting a planned shutdown that was due to take effect Sunday.
The ruling marks another legal setback for Trump's efforts to transform the historic public golf course into a championship-style facility designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio.
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Reyes found that the administration's explanations for the closure, including concerns about deteriorating infrastructure and the absence of a golf course operator, were likely pretextual, concluding that officials were seeking to close the park to facilitate Trump's proposed redevelopment.
"The Court concludes that DOI and NPS plan to close the Park to further the Washington National Plan," Reyes wrote.
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The judge added that the government had acknowledged its intention to carry out Trump's directive to close the property, despite presenting other justifications in its formal closure announcement.
During a November 13 court hearing, government counsel agreed when Reyes asked whether the administration was carrying out the president's directive.
"You're carrying out the President's directive; right?" the judge asked.
"Uh-huh, and that's the way the government works," government counsel responded.
The dispute centers on Trump's plans to overhaul East Potomac Golf Course, a public facility situated on a peninsula between the Potomac River and Washington Channel. The proposed redesign, known as the Washington National Plan, would replace the existing course with a championship-style facility intended to accommodate major tournaments, including the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.
Trump announced in October that restoration work would begin November 15, with the existing course closing to allow construction to proceed.
But the administration's plans extended beyond the golf course itself. The proposed closure would have shut down large portions of East Potomac Park, including public roads, walking and cycling trails, fishing areas, picnic spaces, playgrounds and other recreational facilities.
Reyes questioned why such a sweeping closure was necessary, particularly given that the government had previously allowed public access to the park despite longstanding concerns about the condition of its seawall.
The administration cited the deteriorating seawall as one reason for closing the property. However, the judge noted that the National Park Service had identified safety concerns involving the seawall as far back as 2019 without previously determining that the entire park needed to close.
She also pointed to the Marine Corps Marathon, which took place just days before the closure announcement and saw more than 30,000 runners permitted to travel around the park's perimeter.
The court questioned why the government had allowed such a large event to proceed if the seawall presented an immediate threat requiring the closure of the entire area.
"Maybe," Reyes wrote, referring to the government's argument that organized races in daylight posed different risks from individuals using the park during quieter hours. "But, even so, this does not explain why NPS now chooses to close almost the entire Park, at all hours, for an indefinite period."
The judge also challenged the administration's argument that the closure was necessary because National Links Trust, the nonprofit currently operating the golf course, would no longer manage the facility after November 15. Reyes noted that the National Park Service had itself terminated the organization's continued operation of the course, then cited the resulting absence of an operator as justification for shutting down the park.
"But that reverses cause and effect—by design," she wrote.
The ruling found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on claims that the government had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
In particular, Reyes concluded that the National Park Service had likely failed to follow its own regulations requiring notice-and-comment rulemaking before implementing a closure of such significant scope and duration.
The judge also found that the administration had not adequately considered less restrictive alternatives, such as closing only areas immediately affected by seawall repairs or finding another operator for the golf course.
"The Government proposes to close a historic park, daily enjoyed by Washingtonians of all stripes, indefinitely," Reyes wrote. "This closure would irreparably harm Plaintiffs, who use the Park regularly for recreational activities."
Under Saturday's order, East Potomac Golf Course must remain accessible to the public, even if the government chooses not to operate it for golf. Other portions of the park, including Ohio Drive SW, must also remain open, with limited exceptions for immediate safety threats and areas where active seawall repairs require temporary restrictions.
The order does not require the administration to operate the golf course or enter into a contract with a new concessioner.
The temporary restraining order will remain in effect through November 28, unless the court issues another order.
The ruling is the latest development in a legal battle over Trump's proposed changes to the historic property. The dispute has raised questions about the administration's authority to reshape public parkland, the environmental review process and the future of a recreational space used by Washington residents.
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