Overview
- The Interior Department sent a formal default notice to the National Links Trust and set an end-of-month deadline to cure alleged lease violations or face a reversion to federal control.
- President Donald Trump said he does not plan to work with the current operator and wants the government to redevelop the courses, telling the Wall Street Journal, “If we do them, we’ll do it really beautifully.”
- Earlier this year, trucks dumped soil from the demolished White House East Wing onto East Potomac Golf Links after the administration directed the operator to accept the material or risk default.
- The National Links Trust, which holds a 50-year National Park Service lease for East Potomac, Rock Creek, and Langston, disputes being in default and has said it is willing to partner on improvements.
- Trump has consulted prominent architects, including Tom Fazio, and local golfers have voiced concern that a federal redesign could raise costs and limit access, with ongoing work at Rock Creek now at risk.