Huffman Warns Loophole Could Let Trump Take D.C. Golf Course, Urges Appropriators to Put Guardrails on NPS Funds

Letter details how the Trump administration could use National Park Service funding to upgrade the golf course and transfer ownership of the land to himself, gives solution to stop Trump from using taxpayer money for pet projects

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) urged House and Senate Appropriators to establish strict funding guardrails for the Trump administration’s $500 million request for National Park Service construction, warning that he could abuse a loophole in federal law to transfer the East Potomac Park golf course to himself after taxpayers foot the bill for the most expensive part of his proposed golf course upgrade.

In a letter to appropriators, the Ranking Member called for protections to ensure East Potomac remains public land, protected for the recreation and enjoyment of the American people and cannot be transferred to President Trump, his allies, or other private interests. The language also requests that any funding for seawall construction and repairs at East Potomac Park is used exclusively for that purpose and cannot be redirected to other projects.

In June, the Trump administration requested supplemental funding to rebuild the seawall at East Potomac Park, which protects the park from flooding. But the administration’s recent actions raise serious concerns that taxpayer dollars intended for necessary infrastructure repairs could instead pave the way for Trump’s proposed elite golf course.

For years, the seawall was in line with thousands of other high-priority deferred maintenance projects across the country. Only after President Trump expressed interest in turning East Potomac into a championship golf course did the project suddenly become a priority. Because the seawall repairs are necessary to advance the President’s redevelopment plans, Congress must ensure that funding for seawall maintenance does not inadvertently subsidize his personal ambitions for the site.

The Ranking Member urged appropriators that “without clear guardrails, taxpayers could end up footing the bill for seawall repairs that ultimately help pad Trump’s golf course portfolio.”

In the letter, Ranking Member Huffman warned that a loophole in federal law allows the Secretary of the Interior to sell National Park Service land in the District of Columbia deemed “no longer needed for public purposes” and gives the Secretary discretion to handpick buyers through private solicitation. Although Congress designated East Potomac as a public park to be “forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people,” there is a risk that the Secretary Burgum could exploit this loophole to sell the land or shift its control to private interests, including President Trump or his allies.

The $500 million request could end up forcing taxpayers to finance the expensive infrastructure work Trump is directing so he can transform the beloved East Potomac Park into an elite championship golf course for the ultra-rich.

“It would be unconscionable to let President Trump direct taxpayers to pay for the most expensive portion of the park’s maintenance needs and then take it from them to create a golf course catering to him and his billionaire buddies,” Huffman said.

In September, Ranking Member Huffman raised the alarm about President Trump barreling through with this latest pet project, following the same playbook he used on the White House Ballroom and Arch de Trump. The administration signed an agreement with Fazio Design, who designed several of Trump’s golf courses. The National Park Service has committed at least $50 million in taxpayer dollars for environmental review and construction work, and the President’s personal fundraiser has solicited donations for the golf course. NPS also moved forward with cutting historic trees in the park in defiance of a federal judge.

If President Trump objects to the Ranking Member’s proposed guardrails, then his intentions regarding East Potomac will become all the clearer. East Potomac Park is a beloved historic site that continues to be used by the public as a park and golf course, including the country’s oldest miniature golf course. Congress must provide safeguards to ensure that the President cannot turn this public park into a mini Mar-a-Lago for the mega-rich. Our parks, large and small, from Yosemite to East Potomac, belong to the American people. President Trump cannot be allowed to use taxpayer dollars to take them away.

Read the full letter here.

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