Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration From Closing East Potomac Park and Golf Course in D.C.

A federal judge in Washington on Saturday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from closing East Potomac Park and its public golf course, which had been set to shut Sunday, Nov. 15, for a redesign by architect Tom Fazio. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes's order keeps the site open for at least two weeks while the lawsuit proceeds, a setback for President Trump's plan to build a championship-style course.

Reyes sided with the D.C. Preservation League and two local golfers. She wrote that the course and surrounding bike and walking paths must stay open to the public except for routine, temporary closures and imminent safety threats, and that closure would irreparably harm plaintiffs. She said the government had not identified any harm from preserving the status quo. The order does not force the administration to keep running golf operations such as the concession stand or pro shop, but bars it from using their absence to exclude the public. The administration had argued the park must close for repairs, including a seawall. Trump responded in a Saturday Truth Social post, writing that Reyes “doesn't want us to quickly and inexpensively fix up the Course.” He called the course Trash Island and said the Interior Department would make it the best in the world. He also said D.C.-area residents would get a 50% discount on all rates at the finished course.

The right-leaning Fox News and Washington Examiner lead with Trump's reaction: the Trash Island label, his claims the course is dangerous, and the 50% discount pledge. Fox adds his Joint Base Andrews golf plans, and both note Reyes's inquiry into whether administration lawyers crossed ethical lines. The Examiner points out she was appointed by President Biden and has sparred with Justice Department lawyers over communications and tree removal. Neither excerpt describes the ruling's terms at length. The left-leaning CBS News and NBC News lead with the ruling itself, quoting Reyes's findings on harm to the plaintiffs and the public interest and detailing what the order does and doesn't require. They frame it as a blow to Trump's plans. All sides agree on the closure date, the judge and the Fazio redesign. The Hill and AP largely match the ruling-first framing.