U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes ordered the Trump administration on Thursday, November 12, to disclose the names of Department of Interior employees involved in renovation plans for the East Potomac Golf Links. The ruling came after the Department of Justice requested to keep the names anonymous, citing privacy concerns and potential threats to government personnel.
The legal dispute centers on a multimillion-dollar, taxpayer-funded project to convert the public Washington, D.C. golf course into a championship-level facility. The National Park Service (NPS) has submitted plans for the overhaul, which the administration stated is intended to host major events. The site is scheduled to close on November 15 to begin the project.
Lawyers for the Department of Justice argued in filings on Thursday that the case has generated national attention, "outrage and death threats." They stated that employees who drafted or edited the plans should remain anonymous to avoid harassment. Judge Reyes rejected this argument, stating there was little risk of prejudice in identifying officials acting within their professional scope. The government provided the list shortly before a 5 p.m. deadline but argued the order was an "unconstitutional infringement" on executive branch affairs.
The court's investigation follows an October 30 hearing where Judge Reyes questioned whether officials had misled the court regarding the timeline of the project. The judge previously found that the removal of hundreds of trees at the park was "intentionally" timed to avoid judicial review. On October 26, the judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring 10 days' notice before any "irreparable modification" to the site while a lawsuit by the D.C. Preservation League and two golfers continues.
The scale of the project involves millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to transform a public park into a site capable of hosting major championship events. Users of the course and park will notice the cessation of services and the beginning of major construction this week. The legal proceedings also highlight a conflict between the judicial and executive branches regarding the transparency of government planning and the protection of civil servants from public scrutiny.
What happens next depends on the findings of a court-appointed former federal prosecutor, who is investigating whether government officials violated ethics rules or misled the court. The park is scheduled to close this Sunday, November 15, per the president's directive. The ongoing lawsuit filed by the D.C. Preservation League will continue to determine the legality of the modifications to the site, including the removal of trees protected under the preliminary injunction.