Judge probes DOJ honesty after golf course plan admitted

The legal battle over a federal golf course in Washington, D.C., has intensified. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes ordered a formal inquiry into potential misconduct by government officials. She wants to determine if they misled the court about the status of a plan to close East Potomac Park.

The hearing followed a Wednesday filing in which Justice Department lawyers finally admitted the administration intends to transform the municipal course into a championship-level venue. They stated the park would close in mid-November. This confirmed what President Trump had posted on social media for months, despite previous legal claims that no final plan existed.

Reyes cited D.C. Bar Rule 3.3, which prohibits lawyers from knowingly making false statements to a court. She questioned Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr., who leads the government's defense. Woodward said he did not know of any errors. Reyes noted the government had a large volume of case files. The hearing lasted four hours as Reyes pressed Woodward on the timeline of the renovation plans.

The judge expressed frustration that officials spent weeks preparing a submission to the National Capital Planning Commission while telling the court no plan was in place. Reyes asked if she should understand that lawyers were drafting designs while representing to her that nothing was finalized. She concluded that the government had been inconsistent in its statements.

The new plan involves a design by Tom Fazio for a course capable of hosting major events. The National Park Service signed a new lease with the National Links Trust on Wednesday. The nonprofit will stop operating the East Potomac course by November 15. It will continue to manage two other D.C. municipal courses under a 50-year lease.

Government officials also cited a crumbling seawall as a safety hazard requiring closure. Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron declared that sections of the sidewalk are underwater twice daily. She said the erosion has damaged nearby trees. Woodward estimated seawall repairs would cost between $150 million and $400 million. He did not provide a cost estimate for the golf course renovations.

Reyes will appoint a special master with full investigatory powers to lead the inquiry. If the government objects, she will conduct the investigation herself. She emphasized that opening the inquiry does not mean she has found evidence of violations yet. On Monday, she extended a ban on tree removal and required 10 days' written notice before any further changes to the park.

Rep. Jared Huffman sent a letter to appropriations leaders asking them to block funding for the seawall project. He argued Congress should not let taxpayers pay for maintenance that facilitates a private golf course redesign. The judge ordered the government to preserve all relevant documents to ensure evidence is available for the upcoming investigation.