Reyes questions DOJ over East Potomac Park closure timeline

A federal judge in Washington is pressing the Justice Department to clarify the timeline for closing East Potomac Park, a move that would end public access to a long-standing municipal golf course. The government now plans to shut the park down on November 15 to begin renovations, a schedule it confirmed in a court filing this week. This new stance contradicts previous arguments made by the same attorneys that no immediate plans existed to close the facility.

Judge Ana Reyes led the questioning of Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. She focused on the gap between the administration's public statements and its legal positions. President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the park would close within weeks. However, DOJ attorneys previously told the court that final plans had not been set.

Reyes also addressed the rapid removal of vegetation from the site. The Park Service cut down more than 400 trees over a single weekend. The agency notified the court at 4:55 p.m. on a Friday. Work began at 7 a.m. the following Saturday. Reyes had previously ordered the government to provide notice before any further trees were felled.

The judge challenged the legal team on the safety rationale for the project. The government claims a sea wall is necessary to prevent people from falling into the Potomac River. Woodward stated that he had played golf at the course before. Reyes asked if he had observed people leaping into the river, expressing skepticism about the urgency of the construction.

Reyes questioned the status of a contract with golf course designer Tom Fazio. Fazio visited the site with Trump and held what appeared to be detailed plans. The judge noted it is unlikely that a contract has not been signed given the advanced stage of the planning process.

At a prior hearing that lasted seven hours, Reyes reported receiving death threats via voicemail and email. She linked these communications to the dispute over the golf course. She criticized the administration for removing the trees while claiming the work was part of a dormant beautification plan rather than construction for a new course.

Trump has responded to the legal battle with online posts. He described the current course as highly dangerous, dilapidated, and absolutely disgusting. He stated that Reyes would be held responsible for anyone injured or killed at the site. He also argued that local golfers have begged for the course to be brought into pristine condition.

The plaintiffs in the case argue that the renovation is causing irreversible damage to the park. They contend the new design will make the course unaffordable for the general public and eliminate other uses of the land. The government told the court there is currently no budget allocated for the project, a claim Reyes questioned given the proximity of the approval process.

The proposal for the new golf course is set to be submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission later on Friday. The commission will review the plans for approval. The central issue in the current hearing is whether Reyes will issue an order stopping construction from beginning on November 15.

The project is part of a wider effort by the administration to modify historic sites in Washington. The outcome of the hearing will determine the immediate next steps for the park, including whether the November closure proceeds as scheduled.