Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Feb 14: A non-profit organisation and two Washington residents have filed a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump’s administration, seeking to halt the proposed overhaul of a century-old public golf course in the US capital.

The suit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges the administration’s plans for reconstruction work at East Potomac Park, which includes the historic East Potomac Golf Course. The plaintiffs argue that the move violates a Congressional Act of 1897 that mandates the park be “forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people.”

The defendants named in the case include the United States Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, which functions under the Interior Department.

The controversy follows the administration’s decision late last year to cancel a 50-year lease granted in 2020 to the National Links Trust (NLT) to manage three public golf courses in Washington D.C. The Interior Department alleged that NLT failed to make required investments and defaulted on rent payments.

NLT has denied the allegations, stating that it neither defaulted on its lease nor failed to meet payment obligations, and claimed the department provided limited details regarding the alleged violations.

The plaintiffs in the case include the DC Preservation League along with residents Dave Roberts and Alex Dickson. The lawsuit further contends that the proposed reconstruction would breach environmental laws and could harm a park listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In response, the Interior Department told local media that it does not comment on pending litigation but said it would ensure the courses remain “safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable and accessible” to visitors.

The legal battle adds to a series of moves by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping cultural and historical institutions across the United States.