The Trump administration cancels lease agreements for public golf courses in Washington, D.C., citing investments and future plans as points of contention.
The government of US President Donald Trump announced the termination of the lease agreements for three public golf courses in the capital, Washington, D.C. These include the historically significant courses Rock Creek, Langston, and East Potomac located within the city. Especially notable is East Potomac Golf Course, prominently visible from the Washington Monument, offering players an outstanding view of the surrounding landscape. This decision to cancel the leases reflects the president’s general pattern of prioritizing his brand and vision over the city’s infrastructure.
NLT Invested Millions in Renovation and Modernization
The National Links Trust (NLT), a nonprofit organization, has managed the three mentioned golf courses for around five years and claims to have invested $8.5 million into their renovation. They presented an extensive renovation plan and hired golf architects Gil Hanse, Tom Doak, and Beau Welling to lead the projects, who agreed to provide their expertise free of charge. Thanks to these modernization investments, the NLT has doubled both the number of rounds played and revenues during their tenure.
In mid-December 2025, Donald Trump threatened the National Links Trust (NLT) with terminating the lease agreements for the three public golf courses in Washington, D.C., alleging that the NLT violated terms of the contracts. The NLT, however, stated it was unaware of any breaches and expressed confusion about the government’s threats. In October, the administration had already dumped construction debris from the demolished East Wing of the White House on the East Potomac property.
Trump Administration Enforces Termination of 50-Year Leases
On Wednesday, the U.S. government followed through on the threat, canceling the 50-year lease agreements with the NLT, citing failure to make required investments and violation of contract terms. The golf courses mainly reside on land managed by the National Park Service, a department of the Interior Ministry.
The National Links Trust expressed deep dismay over the Trump administration’s decision to terminate their 50-year lease with the National Park Service, noting that the NLT has continuously fulfilled all contractual obligations over the last five years to ensure a promising future for public golf in Washington, D.C.
The NLT emphasized a fundamental disagreement with the government’s claim that they violated the lease terms. The Interior Department responded that the Trump administration is proud to fulfill its duties to the American people and collaborate with partners sharing the same goals.
East Potomac at the Center of Trump’s Golf Vision
East Potomac has become a focus of the president’s interests. With its breathtaking views of the Washington Monument and Potomac River, its renovation is seen as a potential model for democratizing golf nationwide. According to three sources familiar with the administration’s plans, Trump intends to transform East Potomac into a championship course capable of hosting professional tournaments, potentially including the Ryder Cup. However, the next available Ryder Cup slot is in 2041, after the 2037 event scheduled at the Congressional Golf Club near the capital. Trump’s vision includes replacing the three volunteer architects with Tom Fazio, an architect with longstanding professional ties to