Group suing to stop Trump 'takeover' alerts judge to even more proof that a 'massive' golf course 'overhaul' is in the works, not just 'maintenance'

One week aft a federal judge warned the DOJ determination would beryllium "serious consequences" if the Trump administration uses regular attraction arsenic screen for bulldozing East Potomac Park Golf Course, the radical that sued to halt the "takeover" says there's adjacent much impervious that the task is "a monolithic overhaul, not simply restoration and required maintenance."

In a Monday filing, the D.C. Preservation League plaintiff alerted U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes to Exhibit A, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum's May 8 station connected X.

pic.twitter.com/60U2rYTpwn

— Secretary Doug Burgum (@SecretaryBurgum) May 9, 2026

There, the suspect shared that the National Park Service, National Links Trust, Fazio Design, and perchance the Washington Commanders, to sanction a few, were progressive successful a "historic investment" to reconstruct 3 play courses, including astatine East Potomac Park. Burgum's announcement claimed that these courses volition beryllium "affordable and accessible for all."

"The National Park Service volition renovate East Potomac Golf Links and put successful indispensable large infrastructure projects crossed East Potomac Park. Following this renovation, which volition incorporated themes of the archetypal Walter J. Travis design, East Potomac Golf Links volition connection a top-tier 18-hole title play people susceptible of hosting pre-eminent tourney play and offering players—of each abilities—an unthinkable acquisition successful the bosom of the Nation's Capital and the National Mall. The spot volition besides connection different playing opportunities and world-class signifier and short-game facilities, arsenic good arsenic different recreational spaces," the station said.

For the plaintiffs, Burgum confirmed what they "have alleged each along" — that the Trump medication "will" imminently instrumentality implicit the play people and marque irreversible changes to the "original Walter J. Travis people design" but for "'incorporat[ing its] themes' (whatever that operation means)."

Law&Crime antecedently reported that Reyes, a Joe Biden appointee, scheduled a proceeding connected abbreviated announcement past week and questioned National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Kevin Griess nether oath astir the government's plans.

The witnesser testified that determination were a "very dangerous" uncertain fig of "dead trees" astir the play people and that attraction had lone been directed to instrumentality inventory of trees needing removal.

"There's not a grove of dormant trees, but the dormant trees are precise unsafe due to the fact that they interruption disconnected successful the wind," Griess said, framing arsenic concern arsenic accustomed what looked to the plaintiffs to beryllium a monolithic overhaul. The justice didn't contented an injunction, however, opting alternatively to pass the authorities to inquire support archetypal alternatively than seeking forgiveness later.

On Monday, the plaintiffs again said their fears were proven right.

"[L]imited restoration and preservation of a people stands successful stark opposition to the planned conversion of East Potomac to a title people with the retention of a historical architect's 'themes' that present looms astatine East Potomac," the filing said. "This makes wide that the forthcoming enactment astatine East Potomac is, arsenic Plaintiffs person alleged, a monolithic overhaul, not simply restoration and required maintenance."

"Barring a alteration successful Defendants' positions successful effect to these revelations, Plaintiffs volition much afloat code the implications of these developments successful their forthcoming filings, and taxable this announcement lone to guarantee that the Court learns of them successful a timely manner," the announcement explained.