Judge Orders Justice Department to Clarify Golf Course Timeline

U.S. Magistrate Judge Ana Reyes ordered the Justice Department to appear in court for a status hearing on Friday or Monday. The order requires the department to clarify whether plans exist to close East Potomac Golf Course on or around November 15, 2026. This directive follows President Donald Trump’s social media posts that created conflicting timelines for the renovation of the historic facility.

Reyes issued the order on Tuesday in response to Trump’s criticism of her temporary injunction. The injunction, issued Monday, bars the government from removing or damaging additional trees on the course. It also requires the administration to provide 10 days’ written notice before making any irreparable modifications to the site’s features while the lawsuit is active.

The legal dispute stems from inconsistent public statements by the president. Trump initially announced that construction would begin next month and that the facility would be closed for 15 months. The following day, he revised the timetable, stating that restoration work would begin immediately. Reyes noted in her order that the Justice Department urged the court not to believe the sitting president regarding these specific claims.

In her ruling, Reyes wrote that it is rare for the department to ask a federal court to question the president’s statements about federal land projects. She specifically cited the conflict between claims that a cabinet secretary developed the project, that a historic golf course would be destroyed, and that work would start immediately. The judge concluded the order with the phrase, "And yet, here we are."

Plaintiffs in the case, including the DC Preservation League and two golfers, argue that the work is causing irreversible damage. They contend the renovation will make the course unaffordable for the general public and eliminate other uses of the site. During a previous hearing, Reyes criticized the government after workers cut down at least 400 trees over a holiday weekend with little notice.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. will appear for the upcoming status hearing. During a hearing on October 19, Woodward defended a Justice Department lawyer who was questioned about the conflicting information. Woodward stated it was difficult to put a non-Senate-confirmed employee in a position of contradicting the president.

The renovation is part of a larger set of projects aimed at altering Washington’s historic landscape. These plans include a White House ballroom, a massive arch, and a National Garden of American Heroes in West Potomac Park. The DC Preservation League is part of a coalition that has filed multiple lawsuits challenging these initiatives. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.