By Sohaib Shams
A federal judge has ordered a top Justice Department official back to court after President Donald Trump posted on social media that the historic East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, D.C., will close on Nov. 15 for renovations, directly contradicting administration assurances given in a hearing last week.
Contradictory Statements
District Judge Ana Reyes ordered Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward to clarify whether his prior statements that there were no plans to close the course remain accurate. She also required Woodward to attend a hearing on Friday or Monday to address compliance with her injunction barring further construction at East Potomac Park.
Environmental Violations Cited
In a 70-page ruling, Reyes criticized the administration and concluded it likely violated the National Environmental Policy Act by segmenting the environmental impacts of the project. She noted the removal of more than 400 healthy trees on short notice and ordered the administration to provide ten business days' written advance notice before any irreparable modifications to the park.
Trump Vows Appeal
Trump said his administration will appeal the ruling, insisting the project is "as of right" and that the judge's request for updates is unconstitutional. He posted that the course will close as scheduled on Nov. 15 for competitive, safety, modernization, and aesthetic reasons, and claimed the current course is "extremely dangerous to play."
