A federal judge issued a stern warning to the Trump administration Monday over its plans to overhaul a historic Washington DC public golf course, as newly released soil data revealed that rubble from the demolished White House East Wing contains lead, chromium, and other toxic metals.
District Judge Ana Reyes heard arguments in an emergency hearing called by the DC Preservation League, which filed for a temporary restraining order to block immediate work at East Potomac Golf Club. While Reyes allowed maintenance to continue, she made clear the administration faces "serious consequences" if it rushes forward with redevelopment without proper notice and oversight.
"Let's just say, given some issues around the District recently, I would have a particular concern that we not act first and ask forgiveness later," Reyes said from the bench, according to reporting. "Because that's not going to be acceptable, and I want you to make sure that that's fully communicated."
The judge even likened the situation to the television comedy Parks and Recreation, noting she is "no Amy Poehler" in her willingness to rubber-stamp government projects regardless of their merits.
At the heart of the dispute lies Trump's December takeover of the three municipal golf courses in Washington DC after he terminated a 50-year lease held by the National Links Trust. In January, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump confirmed his intention to transform the courses, telling the newspaper: "If we do them, we'll do it really beautifully."
The Washington Post revealed over the weekend that Trump's administration circulated a fundraising document outlining plans to "dramatically remake parts of Washington's waterfront," including an exclusive championship golf course and a "national garden of American heroes."
National Park Service superintendent Kevin Griess testified that no major renovation work was scheduled for the immediate days ahead, contradicting a report that the course would close after Sunday. However, he acknowledged a "safety assessment" was underway, prompting Reyes to issue specific directives: the government must provide reasonable advance notice before closing the course, removing more than 10 trees, or bringing in construction equipment.
The toxic soil discovery adds another layer to the controversy. Testing of rubble deposited at the golf course showed contamination levels that exceeded laboratory reporting limits for lead and chromium, according to soil data released by the NPS. The DC Preservation League highlighted the irony in the government's position, noting that officials previously claimed the East Wing had to be demolished because it was full of contaminants.
"This is supposed to be open to the public and accessible to the public of every different background, and we wanted to keep it that way," said Rebecca Miller, executive director of the DC Preservation League, speaking to CBS News. "This is something that's used by the public and children and could be really hazardous."
Evidence of advanced planning surfaced in reporting by Golf Digest, which revealed that Tom Fazio, a designer of four Trump golf courses, visited the East Potomac site under an alias late in 2025. Reyes acknowledged during Monday's hearing that the administration appeared further along than its court filings suggested.
"Something is happening," Reyes told government attorneys. "When you have a pledge going out with pictures, asking people for money, we're pretty far down the road."
Author James Rodriguez: "A federal judge just told Trump's team to pump the brakes on what looks like a done deal disguised as a work in progress, and the toxic soil story is the smoking gun that makes the whole thing impossible to ignore."
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