A D.C. preservation group and two local golfers have launched a desperate legal bid to block the Trump administration from shuttering much of East Potomac Park on November 15. The motion, filed Thursday in federal court, seeks a temporary restraining order to delay the closure for at least 14 days, providing time for the judiciary to weigh the long-term impact of the administration’s controversial redevelopment plans.
The National Park Service (NPS) maintains that the closure of the park area south of Buckeye Drive is a matter of public safety, citing a deteriorating seawall along the Potomac River. However, the plaintiffs—the D.C. Preservation League and residents Dave Roberts and Alex Dickson—dispute this narrative. In their 42-page filing, they argue that seawall instability has been a known, manageable issue for years, one that the government previously addressed with simple fencing rather than a total shutdown.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs contend that the sudden closure is not motivated by safety, but serves as a tactical maneuver to clear the way for President Donald Trump’s plan to replace the historic public golf course with a championship-style facility designed by architect Tom Fazio.
“Once the course is closed and construction begins, that possibility is gone,” the filing states, noting that the federal government has failed to provide a timeline for when or if actual repairs to the seawall would begin.
The legal challenge suggests that moving forward with the project before completing rigorous environmental and historic preservation reviews violates federal law. Beyond the fate of the golf course, the plaintiffs fear the massive redesign could permanently eliminate access to Hains Point and portions of Ohio Drive—vital public spaces used by locals for running, fishing, biking, and picnicking.
This latest filing follows an October 26 ruling by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, which successfully halted further tree removal at the site after roughly 430 trees were cleared earlier in the month. Judge Reyes had previously ordered the government to provide ten business days’ notice before initiating any irreversible changes to the park.
While the administration insists that operations at the course must cease by November 15, President Trump has publicly signaled his intent to begin rebuilding the grounds on that date, promising a reopened, modernized course in roughly 15 months.
The court has scheduled a hearing on the emergency motion for Friday, November 13, just 48 hours before the scheduled closure. The federal government is required to submit its response by November 9, with the plaintiffs’ reply due by November 10. As the clock ticks down toward the mid-November deadline, the future of one of the District’s most iconic recreational landmarks remains at a legal standstill.
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