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.
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Why It Matters
Trump, an avid golfer, owns 18 courses worldwide, including a dozen in the United States. Trump Golf operates Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C., roughly 30 miles west in Potomac Falls, Virginia. The property runs along the Potomac and features two, private 18-hole courses.
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.
What To Know
Trump told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that National Links Trust had until the end of the month to fix the lease violations or the administration will take control of the properties. The president said he has no interest in continuing to work with the nonprofit.
“I think what we’re looking to do is just build something different,” Trump told the newspaper, “and build them in government.”
When reached via email on Wednesday night, a White House spokesperson referred Newsweek to Trump’s remarks to the Wall Street Journal.
Newsweek has reached out to 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.
East Potomac Golf Course appears to be drawing the most interest from Trump, according to the New York Times. The 36-hole facility is the closest golf course to the White House and Capitol Hill and is located between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. At its center is the historic Blue Course, dating to 1918. The Times reported that property faces major challenges, including severe drainage issues and a seawall in need of extensive repairs.
Langston Golf Course, established in 1939 during the Jim Crow era, became a landmark for Black golfers and a symbol of inclusion in the sport; it sits along the Anacostia River and has hosted generations of African American players and civic leaders. Rock Creek Park Golf Course, located in the heart of Washington’s largest urban park, opened in 1909. The course sits just north of downtown D.C.
Trump said last month that golf legend Jack Nicklaus will help restore two golf courses at Joint Base Andrews, a military installation about 20 miles from the White House. Trump met Nicklaus at the base for an aerial tour and told reporters before departing that the courses and other recreational facilities were “in very bad shape” after years of neglect. He called Andrews “a great place that’s been destroyed over the years through lack of maintenance” and said the work could be done for “very little money.”
What Happens Next
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.
Updates: 12/31/25, 6:22 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Updates: 12/31/25, 7:38 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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