US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that renovation work on Washington’s historic East Potomac Golf Links will begin on November 15, despite an ongoing legal dispute involving environmental protection and historic preservation concerns.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the golf course renovation would take approximately 15 months to complete before reopening to the public. The announcement follows an earlier plan to begin construction in September, which was delayed amid legal challenges.
The East Potomac Golf Links project is part of Trump's broader efforts to transform prominent Washington landmarks, including the White House and other federal properties.
However, the proposed construction timeline faces uncertainty following rulings by US District Judge Ana Reyes. Earlier this year, Reyes ordered the federal government to provide advance notification before beginning any substantial construction activities at the historic golf course.
Last week, the judge also ordered officials to stop removing trees from the property, describing the government's actions as "inexcusable."
The legal battle began in February when the DC Preservation League filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's takeover of the golf course. The preservation organization argued that the project could violate environmental regulations and permanently damage an important piece of American history.
In an October 9 court filing, the administration requested dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing that the proposed renovation remained in its preliminary planning stages and that legal challenges were premature.
However, the following day, government crews removed approximately 500 trees from the site. Federal officials defended the removals, saying they were necessary to improve public safety and restore the park's original landscape design.
The administration also maintained that the tree removal was authorized under a 2019 restoration plan developed before Trump's current renovation proposal. Reyes subsequently ordered the activity halted.
The dispute intensified Friday when government attorneys filed a motion seeking Reyes' disqualification from the case. They accused the judge of demonstrating "deep-seated and unequivocal antipathy toward the Trump Administration" and requested reassignment to another federal judge.
The White House has not clarified whether Trump's November 15 construction announcement complies with the court's existing directives.
The project's scheduled start could depend on further judicial decisions, including the pending dismissal request, the motion to remove Reyes, and compliance with environmental and historic preservation requirements.
For now, Trump's Washington golf course renovation remains scheduled to proceed, although the continuing court battle could complicate or delay construction.
