Two Washington-area golf enthusiasts have filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plan to take over and redevelop the District of Columbia’s public golf system, setting up a legal battle over the future of some of the capital’s most scenic fairways.
The suit, filed late last week by plaintiffs Alex Dickson and Dave Roberts, argues that the administration’s decision to terminate its lease with the National Links Trust violates several federal statutes, including the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
In December, the Interior Department ended its lease with the National Links Trust, a nonprofit organization formed during the pandemic to oversee redevelopment of the capital area’s public golf facilities. The group had managed several properties, including the expansive East Potomac Golf Course on Hains Point in East Potomac Park, which offers sweeping views of the Washington Monument and downtown D.C.
The lease termination followed President Trump’s public discussion of plans to take over the East Potomac property and transform it into a state-of-the-art 18-hole facility capable of hosting major championships and international competitions.
Dickson, one of the plaintiffs, criticized the administration’s move in a statement, arguing that shifting control to the White House would undermine long-term planning.
“Allowing East Potomac golf course to become dependent on the whims of the White House deprives this community of what the National Park Service set out to accomplish with a long-term operator that can not only oversee sustainable improvements but do so with the needs of golfers with varying experience, skill levels, and economic means in mind,” Dickson said.
Under the National Links Trust, supporters say the D.C.-area golf system had begun gaining national recognition as a model for affordable and accessible public golf. East Potomac in particular had been seen as an example of how public-private partnerships could provide options for golfers of different backgrounds and skill levels.
Critics of the administration’s redevelopment plans argue that a federal takeover of East Potomac — along with smaller parcels at Rock Creek Park and Langston — could lead to higher tee times and reduced access for everyday golfers. They worry that transforming the property into a championship-caliber venue may shift its focus away from affordability and community access.
The White House, however, has defended the president’s vision, pushing back on concerns that costs would rise or that public access would diminish.
In a recent statement, a White House spokesperson said, “President Trump is a champion-level golfer with an extraordinary eye for detail and design, and his vision to renovate and beautify DC’s public golf courses will bring much needed improvements that American citizens will be able to enjoy.”
The administration has framed the proposal as an effort to upgrade and enhance the capital’s public golf infrastructure, arguing that modernization could bring long-term benefits and greater national attention to the facilities.
The lawsuit now puts the dispute before the courts, where a judge will determine whether the lease termination and redevelopment plans complied with federal law. As the legal fight unfolds, the future of some of Washington’s most iconic public golf courses remains uncertain.
