US President Donald Trump has declared that renovation work at Washington’s historic East Potomac Golf Links will begin immediately, challenging a federal judge’s restrictions on construction activity at the site.
The announcement has intensified a dispute over the administration’s plans for the public golf course, with preservationists warning that the proposed makeover could damage the environment and destroy a site of historical significance.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump sharply criticised US District Judge Ana Reyes, dismissing the ongoing case as “ridiculous” and describing the judge in inflammatory terms. He insisted that the Interior Department had the authority to carry out the renovation without seeking additional approval.
“The experts at ‘Interior’ are allowed to do this First Class renovation ‘as of right.’ They do not need an approval. Work is scheduled to begin IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote.
His declaration came despite earlier court orders requiring the administration to notify the court before undertaking substantial construction at the golf course.
Court Restrictions Complicate Renovation Plans
Judge Reyes has been overseeing a legal challenge to the administration’s plans for East Potomac Golf Links. Earlier this year, she directed the government to provide advance notice before proceeding with significant construction work.
Last week, the judge also ordered a halt to tree removal at the site after more than 400 trees had been cut down. She described the administration’s actions as “inexcusable.”
Trump had previously indicated that renovation work would begin in November, with a reopening expected in approximately 15 months. His latest statement, however, suggested that the administration intended to move ahead without delay.
The project forms part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape prominent federal properties and landmarks in Washington.
Administration Challenges the Basis of the Lawsuit
The government has argued that the proposed renovation has not reached the stage of a formal agency decision and that the legal challenge is therefore premature.
In a court filing responding to Reyes’ questions, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward maintained that redesigning the golf course would not constitute an official agency action. He compared the proposed changes to redesigning museum exhibits, trimming trees, replacing fences, widening fairways or maintaining lawns.
The administration had also sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing that the project remained in its early planning stages.
However, the extensive tree removal at the course has raised questions about that position. The government said the work was intended to improve public safety, restore the course’s original design and implement a plan developed in 2019, before Trump pursued his renovation ambitions.
Reyes subsequently ordered the tree-cutting activity to stop.
Preservationists Warn of Lasting Damage
The DC Preservation League filed its lawsuit in February, seeking to prevent the administration from proceeding with the project. The organisation argues that the proposed changes would violate environmental protections and cause irreversible damage to an important part of American history.
The dispute now centres on whether the administration can proceed with its plans while the legal challenge remains unresolved.
The government has also moved to remove Reyes from the case, asking that the matter be reassigned to another district judge. In its filing, the administration accused her of demonstrating deep and unequivocal hostility toward Trump’s government.
With Trump insisting that work will begin immediately and the court having already imposed restrictions on activity at the site, the next steps could determine how far the administration can go with its plans for the historic golf course.
