Democrat Seeks to Block Trump From Acquiring D.C. Golf Course After Federal Renovations
Rep. Jared Huffman urges appropriators to add safeguards preventing the president from benefiting from taxpayer-funded improvements to the East Potomac Golf Course.
A Democratic congressman is urging congressional appropriators to implement measures that would prevent President Donald Trump from acquiring the East Potomac Golf Course, which is currently undergoing federally funded renovations. Rep. Jared Huffman, the ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, wrote to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to express his concerns.
Huffman's letter, obtained by ABC News, highlights a provision of federal law that could allow the Secretary of the Interior to transfer ownership of the park to the President or his associates through a "private solicitation." He argues that the current rush to complete renovations on taxpayer funds, coupled with this legal provision, could allow Trump to exploit a loophole.
The renovation plans for the public course, located on a peninsula in Washington D.C., have faced legal challenges, though the president has stated work would begin on November 15. The administration has requested $500 million from Congress for the National Park Service to carry out "targeted restoration and construction" on the seawall surrounding East Potomac Park and the World War II Memorial. The seawall, originally built in the 1890s, is described by the Park Service as significantly settled and compromised.
Huffman contends that the proposed taxpayer funding could facilitate the transformation of East Potomac Park into an exclusive championship golf course, potentially paving the way for Trump to purchase the property. "Without clear guardrails, taxpayers could end up footing the bill for seawall repairs that ultimately help pad Trump's golf course portfolio," Huffman wrote.
The National Capital Planning Commission, whose members are appointed by Trump, is scheduled to review the golf course plans and surrounding park area on December 3. The commission is also expected to consider Trump's controversial proposal for a "triumphal arch" near Arlington National Cemetery.
Legal action has been initiated by two golfers and the DC Preservation League to halt the golf course project. On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the Interior Department to respond to repeated assertions by Trump about the November 15 course closure date, directly contradicting previous assurances given in court. Judge Ana Reyes has scheduled a follow-up hearing for Friday.
Last week, Reyes issued a preliminary injunction requiring the administration to provide 10 days' written notice before making any "irreparable modification" to the course's features while the lawsuit is ongoing.
In response to criticism, Trump has defended the renovation plans, sharing images of what he described as "highly dangerous, dilapidated, and absolutely disgusting" conditions at the course. He claimed a White House staffer was injured by a golf ball due to torn netting on the driving range. During a press briefing, he stated the course is "very obsolete" but vowed to create a "WORLD CLASS PUBLIC Golf Course that is AFFORDABLE for locals."