Taxpayer-funded renovations raise stakes as Democrat Huffman wants assurances Trump cannot acquire DC golf course

Huffman seeks safeguards

Rep. Huffman has urged congressional appropriators to set limits on how East Potomac Golf Course could be transferred. He warned that a federal-law provision might give Interior Secretary Doug Burgum a way to offer the property for sale and select buyers privately.

Huffman’s letter said the proposed repairs, paid for with taxpayer funds, raised concerns alongside the possibility of a transfer. He argued that if the work is genuinely intended to restore public land, the president should accept safeguards tied to supplemental funding.

Course plans face legal scrutiny

Trump has repeatedly said work on the public course in Washington would start Nov. 15. The planned renovation faces legal challenges, and two golfers and the DC Preservation League have sued to block the project. Judge Reyes earlier issued a preliminary injunction requiring 10 days’ written notice before any irreparable changes to the course’s forms or features while the lawsuit remains active.

Park features and commission review

The Park Service says the seawall, built in the 1890s, has settled and deteriorated, creating dangerous conditions in some sections. Huffman cited a May social media post by Burgum suggesting the project might not be viable without rebuilding the seawall.

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the golf course and surrounding park plans at its Dec. 3 meeting. The commission is also expected to approve plans for a 250-foot-tall triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery at its Nov. 5 meeting; that project faces legal challenges as well.

Trump cites course conditions

Trump has described the course as being in poor condition and said he wants to make it a high-quality public facility affordable to local residents. He also claimed a White House staffer was hit in the chest by a golf ball because of torn netting at the driving range.

When reporters asked about the staffer after a campaign rally in South Carolina on Thursday, Trump declined to say who had been struck. ABC News said it had contacted the White House for comment on Huffman’s letter.