Watchdog group asks judge to halt Trump's plan for East Potomac Golf Links
Source: Washington Post
May 3, 2026 at 3:27 p.m. EDT
A watchdog group asked a federal judge Sunday to block the Trump administration from moving forward with plans that could shutter East Potomac Golf Links, escalating a legal fight over the future of Washington’s busiest public course.
The emergency request was filed in response to news reports that the administration planned to take over operations of the popular municipal golf course as soon as Sunday evening and begin maintenance work, even as officials have offered few details to the public or the course’s current operator.
The course remained open as of Sunday afternoon and was still accepting tee times for the coming week. Government officials have not responded to questions about whether it would remain open beyond that, and uncertainty persisted among employees, some of whom said they had packed their personal belongings and were unsure whether they were expected to report to work Monday.
The filing asks a judge to hold an emergency hearing and to immediately halt any steps toward closing or redeveloping the course, requiring that a golf operator remain in place while the court weighs a broader legal challenge. “We are asking the court to act urgently to save this important part of our national park system,” Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, a legal advocacy nonprofit that has frequently opposed Trump administration policies in court and filed Sunday’s legal challenge, said in a statement.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/05/03/east-potomac-golf-trump-emergency-lawsuit/
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Link to Democracy Forward PRESS RELEASE - Emergency Stay Sought in Legal Battle Over Public Access to East Potomac Golf Course
Link to FILING (PDF) - https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Golf-045112070569.pdf