The Trump administration has terminated a long-term lease for three public golf courses in the nation’s capital, a move that could allow President Donald Trump to reshape another prominent piece of Washington, D.C.
The Department of the Interior ended the 50-year agreement with the National Links Trust, the nonprofit that has managed the courses for the past five years. Interior officials said the group failed to meet terms of the lease, including implementing required capital improvements.
The decision affects courses at East Potomac Park, Rock Creek Park and Langston Golf Course, a site with deep ties to Black golf history. While the administration has not disclosed its plans, the move gives Trump — whose private company operates golf courses worldwide — an opportunity to influence the future of the city’s public links.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House, the Department of the Interior and the Trump Organization via email on Wednesday night for comment.
National Links Trust officials said they were “devastated” by the termination and defended their stewardship. They said $8.5 million had been invested in upgrades and that rounds played and revenue more than doubled under their management. The nonprofit will continue operating the courses for now, but long-term renovations will halt.
“While this termination is a major setback, we remain stubbornly hopeful that a path forward can be found that preserves affordable and accessible public golf in the nation’s capital for generations to come,” the group said in a statement.
The Interior Department’s action comes as Trump moves to leave his imprint on Washington landmarks. Earlier this month, the Kennedy Center added Trump’s name after its board — dominated by Trump appointees — voted to rename the performing arts venue originally dedicated to President John F. Kennedy. Trump is also building a ballroom on the White House’s East Wing and has placed his name on the U.S. Institute of Peace.
For now, the future of the three courses remains uncertain. Golf advocates fear the changes could threaten affordable access, while Trump allies frame the decision as part of a broader effort to modernize federal properties.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
