{"id":2528045,"date":"2026-01-01T15:13:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T20:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/interior-department-paves-way-for-possible-trump-dc-golf-course-renovation\/"},"modified":"2026-01-01T15:18:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T20:18:30","slug":"interior-department-paves-way-for-possible-trump-dc-golf-course-renovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/interior-department-paves-way-for-possible-trump-dc-golf-course-renovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Interior Department paves way for possible Trump DC golf course renovation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Finterior-department-paves-way-for-possible-trump-dc-golf-course-renovation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2528045&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Interior Department has terminated a 2020, 50-year lease with the National Links Trust (NLT), the nonprofit that operated Washington, D.C.&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pga-settles-with-trump-over-cancellation-of-2022-pga-championship-at-trump-bedminster\/\" title=\"PGA Settles with Trump Over Cancellation of 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster\">public golf courses<\/a> at East Potomac, Langston, and Rock Creek. Interior says it issued a lease default notice on Oct. 29, 2025, citing failure to complete required capital improvements and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >alleged unpaid rent totaling millions<\/a>, and that NLT did not submit an acceptable cure plan within 45 days. NLT strongly disputes the characterization, saying it invested more than $8.5 million in improvements, received National Park service-approved offsets against rent, and has consistently met lease obligations; the group called the termination &#8220;devastating&#8221; but agreed to continue operating the courses temporarily so they remain open and halted long-term Rock Creek renovations.<\/p>\n<p>The move clears the way for possible renovation plans by President Donald Trump,who told the Wall Street Journal he&#8217;s interested in renovating the courses-saying he&#8217;d &#8220;build something different,&#8221; and indicated East Potomac would be the first,with lower rates for residents if the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/harris-makes-surprise-appearance-at-black-state-legislators-conference-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Harris makes surprise appearance at black state legislators conference - Washington Examiner\">administration takes control<\/a>. The Interior Department did not outline specific next steps for the sites and referred contract questions to the department; the White House deferred to Interior for comment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Interior Department paves way for possible Trump DC golf course renovation<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2459859\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/interior-department\/\">Interior Department<\/a> has terminated its lease with the nonprofit organization that ran <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C.<\/a>&lsquo;s public <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/golf\/\">golf<\/a> courses, making way for President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> to possibly renovate the courses.<\/p>\n<p>The National Links Trust, a nonprofit, signed a 50-year lease with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/national-park-service\/\">National Park Service<\/a> to operate the district&rsquo;s East Potomac, Langston, and Rock Creek golf courses in 2020. But the contracted relationship has been on the rocks in recent months, as disputes over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-privacy-law-conflicts-with-duty-to-prevent-illegal-voting\/\" title=\"Wisconsin Privacy Law Conflicts With Duty To Prevent Illegal Voting\">nonprofit organization&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s lease obligations ultimately led to the Interior Department terminating the agreement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4393300\/2026-pivotal-year-trump-second-term\/\">2026 is a pivotal year for Trump&#8217;s second term<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4379320\/israel-bristles-trump-cozies-up-to-strong-men-in-suits\/\">Israel bristles as Trump cozies up to strong men in suits<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4379310\/trump-slams-rigged-polling-data-claims-real-approval-over-60\/\">Trump slams &#8216;rigged&#8217; polling data, claims &#8216;real&#8217; approval is over 60%<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Interior Department said the National Links Trust did not make capital improvements to each of the courses, as required by the lease agreement. The department said it issued the nonprofit organization a lease default notice&nbsp;on Oct. 29, 2025, which gave the group 45 days to come up with a plan to cure its defaults. The department said the National Links Trust has not produced this plan and also alleged the nonprofit organization owes several million dollars in rent payments.<\/p>\n<p>However, the National Links Trust said it is &ldquo;fundamentally in disagreement with the administration&rsquo;s characterization of NLT as being in default under the lease&rdquo; in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationallinkstrust.org\/whats-happening-now\">statement<\/a>. The group said it was &ldquo;devastated&rdquo; by the lease termination and that it &ldquo;consistently complied with all lease obligations.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have invested over $8.5 million in capital improvement projects at the courses, including critical short-term improvements that have paid significant dividends, more than doubling rounds and revenues while keeping green fees well below the market average for area public courses,&rdquo; the National Links Trust said. <\/p>\n<p>The National Links Trust also disputed the Department&rsquo;s assertion that it failed to pay millions of dollars in rent, saying the NPS approved offsets of its rent payments with its course improvements, according to the <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sports\/2025\/12\/31\/trump-dc-golf-courses-lease\/\">Washington Post<\/a><\/em>, which reported the lease termination news. The Interior Department served the nonprofit organization its termination letter on Tuesday, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n<p>The lease termination comes on the heels of Trump expressing interest in renovating the courses. Trump, who owns dozens of golf courses around the world, told the <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-golf-dc-renovation-0536865a?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfTHvzhMW2eDX0IfIx4EtiIJCVHNyBwFThDYum6wl-5q7D9bgcdW_XSXdDihrs%3D&amp;gaa_ts=693dc82e&amp;gaa_sig=ipUYKKdsGevW3Grwdh261AMzmCHxMsNL3TnAFPG--NOufudcYYvxdER_NMjQc-L6rbzchHsfsDeo797b6kRofg%3D%3D\">Wall Street Journal<\/a><\/em>  in mid-December that he was looking to &ldquo;build something different&rdquo; and &ldquo;build them in government,&rdquo; referring to the course renovations. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If we do them, we&rsquo;ll do it really beautifully,&rdquo; Trump told the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em>. He said the East Potomac course would be the first course in the district that he would renovate and that residents would pay a lower rate at the courses if the administration took control.<\/p>\n<p>The Interior Department moved <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/3861971\/interior-department-repurpose-dirt-white-house-ballroom-construction\/\">repurposed dirt<\/a> from the White House ballroom construction to the East Potomac Golf Links in October.<\/p>\n<p>The Interior Department did not say what the administration&rsquo;s future plans for the courses are, but gave a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Trump administration prides itself on getting the job done for the American people and partnering with others who share that same goal,&rdquo; an Interior Department spokesperson said in the statement.<\/p>\n<p>The White House referred the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> to the Interior Department for contract questions and to Trump&rsquo;s December interview with the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> for comments on the courses.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4393370\/doug-burgum-america-250-celebration-help-citizens-understand-shared-values\/\">DOUG BURGUM SUGGESTS AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION WILL HELP CITIZENS &lsquo;UNDERSTAND OUR SHARED VALUES&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Though the lease termination was effective immediately, the National Links Trust said in its statement that the group has agreed to remain as operators &ldquo;for the time being&rdquo; so that the courses can remain open. The nonprofit organization also confirmed that it would cease its long-term renovations on the Rock Creek Park rehabilitation project.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We will continue to seek a dialogue with the administration to offer our experience, institutional knowledge, and strong community relationships to explore shared goals for these historic public assets. 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&rsquo;s capital for generations to come,&rdquo; the National Links Trust said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interior clears way for Trump to renovate DC golf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2528046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25222736235828.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[67826,45047,60548,33224],"class_list":["post-2528045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-golf-course-renovation","tag-interior-department","tag-trump-golf-course","tag-washington-dc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25222736235828.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2528045"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2528054,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2528045\/revisions\/2528054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2528046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2528045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2528045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2528045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}