Judge Reyes East Potomac Lawsuit DC Preservation League vs. Department of the Interior, The Fight Over East Potomac Golf Course

Note: This article covers an active lawsuit filed February 13, 2026. Information is limited to verified court filings and confirmed public reporting. This page will be updated as the case develops.

DC Preservation League v. Department of the Interior is a federal civil lawsuit filed on February 13, 2026, asking a court to stop the National Park Service from taking actions that would undermine public access to East Potomac Park and convert its historic public golf course into a private championship venue. The plaintiffs argue the Trump administration’s reconstruction plans violate a congressional act from 1897 that designated the land to be “forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people.” As of May 5, 2026, the case is active and the golf course remains open — but just barely.

Quick Facts — DC Preservation League v. Department of the Interior

Field	Detail
Plaintiff	DC Preservation League; Washington residents Dave Roberts and Alex Dickson
Defendant	U.S. Department of the Interior; National Park Service
Case Filed	February 13, 2026
Court & Jurisdiction	U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Presiding Judge	U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes
Alleged Violation	Violation of the 1897 East Potomac Park Act; National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); historic preservation law
Who Is Affected	DC residents, public golfers, and users of East Potomac Park
Current Court Stage	Active litigation — emergency preliminary injunction denied May 5, 2026; case continues
Lead Counsel (Plaintiff)	Democracy Forward (Will Bardwell, Mark Samburg, Catherine Carroll, Robin Thurston); Lowell & Associates (Abbe Lowell); Democracy Defenders Fund
Next Hearing Date	TBD — no date set following May 5 emergency hearing
Last Updated	May 5, 2026

What Is the East Potomac Golf Course Lawsuit About? DC Preservation League v. Department of the Interior

East Potomac Golf Links is D.C.’s largest and most-used public golf course, sitting on a 330-acre island along the Potomac River. Congress established East Potomac Park in 1897, decreeing that it should be “forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people.” The park includes not just the golf course but also tennis courts, a playground, cherry trees, scenic walkways, and Hains Point.

The lawsuit argues that the Trump administration’s reconstruction plans violate that 1897 statute and also breach federal environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — which requires the government to assess and disclose environmental impacts before making major changes to federal land. The plaintiffs also allege the administration unlawfully dumped roughly 30,000 cubic yards of dirt, debris, and wreckage from the White House East Wing demolition onto the golf course — material that included wires, pipes, bricks, and other materials apparently untested for pollutants or contaminants.

Test results released by the government on May 1, 2026, according to the plaintiffs, suggest the administration “dumped a cocktail of contaminants” at the park and continued doing so despite indications of what the material contained. The government disputes the plaintiffs’ characterization of the work and has maintained in court filings that no formal decision on the scope of renovations has been made.

Who Are the Plaintiffs and Defendants in This Lawsuit?

The DC Preservation League is a Washington-based nonprofit watchdog organization focused on protecting the District’s historic buildings, parks, and public spaces. Rebecca Miller, president of the DC Preservation League, says the group is not trying to stop upgrades — they want the government to follow its own policies, including historic and environmental review and public input before any changes are made.

Dave Roberts and Alex Dickson are D.C. residents and golfers who, according to court filings, use East Potomac Park regularly and argue they would be directly harmed by losing access to the course. The complaint was supported by Democracy Forward CEO Skye Perryman, who described East Potomac as a park “available to all people in the community, not just some people or people that can afford to be on an exclusive list.”

Related article: Kaelyn Lunglhofer vs. Meete App, University of Tennessee Student Sues Over Stolen TikTok Video Used in Dating Ad

The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service are the named defendants. The Department of the Interior terminated the National Links Trust’s lease — a 50-year agreement signed in 2020 — in December 2025, just five years into the arrangement. The agency says it does not comment on pending litigation but has stated it wants the courses to remain “safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable and accessible.”

What Are the Plaintiffs Asking the Court to Do?

The plaintiffs sought a temporary stay and preliminary injunction blocking additional work at East Potomac Golf Course and surrounding parkland, citing media reports that construction and tree-clearing could begin as early as May 4, 2026.

On May 5, 2026, Judge Ana Reyes declined to issue emergency relief, saying the case did not yet meet the bar for intervention, but warned the government clearly: any closure requires public notice and the plaintiffs must be given time to challenge it in court. Judge Reyes also ruled that if the Trump administration plans to cut down more than 10 trees on the golf course, it must first get court approval.

The plaintiffs are not seeking money. They want the court to stop the government from taking any major steps — demolition, tree removal beyond what is approved, closure of the course — without going through the legally required environmental review, historic preservation process, and public notice procedures. No settlement exists and no claim form exists. This is an active dispute over public land and federal authority.

What Happened at the May 5 Emergency Hearing?

During the Monday morning conference, Judge Reyes warned DOJ lawyers directly: “I’m going to say this one more time, and I do not want a situation where something has happened and then I’m being told by the government or by a foundation or by a bulldozing company that it’s too late to do anything about it. If anything like that happens, there are going to be serious consequences.”

During the hearing, Judge Reyes received a note from her clerk about signs on the golf course warning of closures the previous day. She asked Kevin Greiss, Superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, directly whether there had been any closures. Greiss said he had not ordered any signs and could not confirm the closures, but said he would check with maintenance staff.

A DOJ filing submitted that morning stated the National Park Service is “still evaluating the scope of repairs and deferred maintenance issues” and that initial work would include fence cleaning and debris cleanup — activities it said do not require environmental compliance documentation. The administration’s position in court filings was that next steps amount to limited maintenance, while fundraising materials circulating outside court described a “comprehensive redevelopment” with AI-generated renderings of a championship course across most of the island.

East Potomac Golf Course Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
East Potomac Park established by Congress	1897
East Potomac Golf Course opened	1919
National Links Trust 50-year lease signed with NPS	2020
White House East Wing demolition debris dumped at course	October 2025
Department of the Interior terminates National Links Trust lease	December 2025
DC Preservation League files lawsuit	February 13, 2026
Emergency stay motion filed by plaintiffs	May 4, 2026
Emergency hearing before Judge Reyes	May 5, 2026
Judge declines emergency relief; orders court notification for major work	May 5, 2026
Next scheduled hearing	TBD — no date confirmed

Frequently Asked Questions — East Potomac Golf Course Lawsuit

Is there a lawsuit against the Trump administration over East Potomac Golf Course? 

Yes. The case is DC Preservation League v. Department of the Interior, filed February 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It challenges the administration’s plans to redevelop East Potomac Park without required legal review.

What is the current status of the East Potomac Golf Course lawsuit?

 As of May 5, 2026, Judge Ana Reyes declined to issue emergency relief blocking maintenance work but ordered the government to notify the court and give plaintiffs time to respond before any major closures or construction begin. The underlying case continues.

Is East Potomac Golf Course still open right now? 

As of May 5, 2026, East Potomac Golf Links remains open. A staff member at the pro shop confirmed the course was open for business on the day of the hearing. The National Links Trust said it continues to operate on a holdover basis.

What does the DC Preservation League allege the administration did wrong?

 According to the complaint, the administration violated the 1897 act creating East Potomac Park, failed to comply with NEPA environmental review requirements, and unlawfully dumped roughly 30,000 cubic yards of debris from the White House East Wing demolition onto the golf course — material that included wires, pipes, and bricks that were apparently untested for pollutants.

Can the public read the court documents in this case?

 Yes. The case is filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the docket is publicly accessible through PACER at pacer.gov. The DC Preservation League and Democracy Forward have also published case documents at dcpreservation.org and democracyforward.org.

What is President Trump’s vision for East Potomac Golf Course?

 President Trump said in January 2026 he wants East Potomac to become “a beautiful, world-class, U.S. Open-caliber course.” Fundraising materials from a nonprofit linked to Trump donor Meredith O’Rourke described a “comprehensive redevelopment” with renderings showing a redesigned golf complex extending across much of the existing park, including Hains Point. The government has not confirmed these plans in court filings.

What happens if the government begins major construction without court notice?

 Judge Reyes warned DOJ lawyers directly that if major work begins without proper notice, “there are going to be serious consequences.” The judge has jurisdiction over this federal property dispute and has the authority to hold parties in contempt of court.

Sources & References

• DC Preservation League — dcpreservation.org/2026/02/13/east-potomac-links-lawsuit
• Democracy Forward — democracyforward.org
• ABC News — May 5, 2026
• The Washington Times — May 4, 2026
• Axios Washington D.C. — May 4, 2026

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against verified court filings, the DC Preservation League, Democracy Forward, and confirmed news reporting on May 5, 2026. Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information about ongoing legal cases is based on publicly available court records and verified reporting. Allegations described in this article have not been proven in court. For advice regarding a particular legal situation, consult a qualified attorney.