Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and other Democrats in Congress wrote Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, raising questions about the cost and preservation of certain staples of the East Potomac Park golf course as President Donald Trump prepares to begin renovations in September.
Raskin opened his letter by calling the project “rushed” and noting his and his colleagues’ “strong objections” to the renovation, as the Trump administration has offered few details about the cost and specific plans for the popular course.
The Trump administration struck a deal in May with the National Links Trust, the group that has long leased the course, to begin renovations on Washington’s three public golf courses alongside the National Park Service and “other partners.” Burgum released the new design just days later, which appears to include a new driving range facing the Washington Monument and a new 18-hole course replacing the current two 9-hole courses and one 18-hole course.
Among Raskin’s concerns were the prospect that renovations could remove biking and running trails from the course and damage the cherry trees along Hains Point that were donated by Japan. Raskin alleges changing such features is “unacceptable and potentially illegal.”
Raskin flagged problems that upgrading the course to a luxury, professional standard could risk shutting out communities that have long played the course, ripping the administration for failing to engage with the public about possible changes to the park. He noted that designs appeared to be far more expansive than initially advertised following Trump’s visit to the park in June.
“If the high-resolution photos of the plan clutched by the President during the tour reflect the Administration’s real intentions, the redesign would create just one 18-hole course for professionals, provide no 9-hole pitch and putt course, and completely eliminate Hains Point and the walking and biking trails surrounding the park,” the letter said.
The Trump administration has not yet disclosed the price tag for the planned renovation of the Red, White, and Blue courses, but Raskin said the information that is available is unacceptable.
“The limited information shared about public access after the redesign includes estimates that the weekend price for local golfers could nearly double as a result of this complete transformation, even as the number of available courses to play on is cut by a third,” the letter said. “This undermines the longstanding principles of affordability and public access which have driven East Potomac Golf Links since its founding.”
Raskin also took issue with the “shadowy” group seeking donors for the renovation plan, the National Garden of American Heroes Foundation, which gave donors the option to donate anonymously.
“The only information available about this shadowy foundation is that interested donors can contact President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign finance director if they have any questions,” the letter said. “We have seen this hollow promise before. Previous construction efforts that President Trump has touted as privately funded have both ballooned in cost and in fact been paid for by taxpayers.”
The letter ends by requesting that Burgum provide the cost estimate of the project, clarify plans for the biking trails and cherry trees, admission cost for players, any ties between the donor foundation and Trump, and whether the Interior Department plans to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires a public comment period.
DOUG BURGUM RELEASES NEW EAST POTOMAC GOLF LINKS LAYOUT
The Interior Department pushed back on Raskin’s characterization of the East Potomac golf course project.
“President Donald J. Trump is fulfilling his commitment to make D.C. Safe and Beautiful as shown by the working fountains, clean parks and safe streets across the district for the first time in decades,” an Interior Department spokesman said. “DOI and NPS are committed to continuing the relationships we have built with the local golf communities to ensure these courses are safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable, accessible, and world-class for people living in and visiting the greatest capital city in the world.”