Virginia and Maryland Democrats are pushing back against the Trump administration’s decision to break the lease of a nonprofit that had been renovating three public golf courses in the nation’s capital.
The courses have become part of President Donald Trump’s plans to make massive changes to the Washington landscape, from his abrupt teardown of the East Wing of the White House last fall to make way for a new ballroom to the idea of building a “triumphal arch” and statue garden on or near the National Mall.
Trump has publicly talked about getting directly involved in renovation of the golf courses, which have been previously managed to remain affordable for local golfers.
In a Monday letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron, the lawmakers questioned the validity of the administration’s claim that the nonprofit violated its lease terms. They also requested environmental information about fill dirt dumped on one of the golf courses after being removed from the grounds of the White House during last year’s East Wing demolition.
