Well, folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. It seems like President Trump is at it again, pushing forward with a major project in Washington, DC, without waiting for the necessary approvals. This time, it’s a plan to renovate the East Potomac Golf Links, a public golf course located on a 300-acre peninsula just south of the National Mall. The administration is moving ahead with the project, despite not having received approvals from the National Capital Planning Commission or the Commission on Fine Arts, two key agencies that oversee DC public spaces.
The project has been met with criticism from local golfers, bikers, and runners, who are concerned about the loss of public access and the historical significance of the land. The plans for the renovation include turning the golf course into a championship course, with a single 18-hole course, and eliminating the 9-hole ranges often used by novice players. The playground, recreational area, and biking and running trails are also at risk of being demolished.
Trump has announced that the renovations will start on September 1, despite the lack of approvals and the ongoing legal challenges. The Interior Department, which oversees the project, has not answered questions about when they will seek approval, or if they will at all. A spokesperson for the department said that the president is committed to making DC “safe and beautiful,” and that the project will provide “championship-quality golf at affordable, highly discounted rates” for locals.
The community is fighting back, with a group called Save East Po organizing a protest against the plans. The group argues that the project will turn a beloved public space into a single-use, golf-only destination, and that it will harm the environment and the historical significance of the land. As Alex Rosen, a member of the group, said, “We’re not anti-golf, we’re against turning a beloved muni into a championship venue, and against turning the rest of the peninsula into a single-use, golf-only destination.”
The legal battles are heating up, with the plaintiffs arguing that the project must be blocked because it runs afoul of federal environmental regulations. The judge, Ana Reyes, has declined to intervene for now, but has ordered the Trump administration to report on any new activity to the court while the initial stages of the litigation play out.
It’s clear that the Trump administration is pushing ahead with this project, regardless of the concerns and criticisms. As Charles Birnbaum of the Cultural Landscape Foundation said, “There is really this ability to ignore regulatory guardrails, rules and protocols that have existed in the past. And we just see it again and again, and the golf course, sadly, is yet another example of that.”
In conclusion, the saga of the East Potomac Golf Links renovation is a classic example of the Trump administration’s approach to major projects: move forward, ask questions later. The community is fighting back, and the legal battles are just beginning. As I finish my coffee, I’m left wondering what’s next for this contentious project. One thing’s for sure, it’ll be a wild ride. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll have a championship golf course in the nation’s capital, but at what cost? 🏌️♂️
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
