當地時間周日（18日），美國總統川普（Donald Trump）宣布，其政府已敲定計畫，將華盛頓的東波托馬克高爾夫球場（East Potomac Golf Links）改建為「世界級錦標賽高爾夫球場」（World Class Championship Golf Course）。
川普表示，這座市政球場將在4周內關閉，改建後的新球場約15個月後即可開放使用。
President Donald Trump on Sunday announced plans to close a historic golf course in the nation’s capital for 15 months and redevelop it despite an ongoing court challenge to his long-sought renovation. https://t.co/DOwPyfcORM
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 18, 2026
綜合美聯社與《紐約時報》（The New York Times）報導，這項宣布為圍繞該場地的聯邦訴訟注入新的緊迫感。一名聯邦法官已於7月下令政府必須向她呈報任何長期計畫，並不得像改造白宮東翼與林肯紀念堂倒影池一樣，進行突襲式大翻修。然而，內政部（Interior Department）本月稍早似乎正是如此行事：在假日期間砍伐數百棵樹木，僅給法院與起訴阻止改建的團體不到一天的反應時間。
The Trump administration has begun a new round of tree-cutting at the historic public East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., as part of a plan to redesign the property into a championship-level golf course. An initial batch of 169 trees began being removed, with another 90 trees scheduled for removal shortly after. Does DC need a "Championship Golf Course?" No! He's planning on destroying as much as he can and no one is stopping him. 😡
— Gianl1974 (@Gianl1974) October 12, 2026
川普周日早上在個人社群發文，似乎印證了歷史保護團體與兩名華盛頓居民在聯邦訴訟中的警告：政府可能在他們有真正機會反對之前，就接管現有球場。他寫道，已通知職業高爾夫組織，「他們很快就會擁有世界上最好、最壯觀的高爾夫球場之一，列入他們打比賽與舉辦重大賽事的絕佳場地清單」。他補充已取得知名設計師法齊奧（Tom Fazio）的設計，法齊奧曾為川普組織（Trump Organization）其他球場規劃。
The United States Department of Interior wants to take a terrible and very unsafe golf course, and make it into a great, safe, and prestigious golf course. They have an absolute right to do so. It’s as simple as that! The judge on the case is a crazed lunatic whose courthouse tapes will reveal, may be insane? The tapes have been blocked from usage by the judge. The random golfer bringing the ridiculous lawsuit has ZERO STANDING! The experts at “Interior” are allowed to do this First Class renovation “as of right.” They do not need an approval. Work is scheduled to begin IMMEDIATELY! The finished product will be World Class, and bring income and great prestige back to D.C. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT ( TS: Oct 19 2026, 6:08 AM ET )
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 19, 2026
川普分享的規劃圖，與上周五（16日）白宮前新聞秘書扎卡里亞（Katie Zacharia）分享的照片中他桌上模糊影像相似。扎卡里亞上任不到一周即遭解職。主審此案的法官雷耶斯（Ana C. Reyes）下令司法部在周日晚間8時前，將這項宣布與先前法庭陳述加以調和。她指出，政府一貫否認已對球場未來做出任何決定，並引用一名司法部律師上周五的說法：川普對球場未來「最多」只有「初步想法」。
I am pleased to announce that the Department of the Interior, under the auspices of Secretary Doug Burgum, and in conjunction with famed Golf Course Architect, Tom Fazio, has developed a plan to build a World Class Championship Golf Course on the site of the current East Potomac Golf Links, located in Washington, D.C. When completed, it will be open to the Public while, at the same time, designed to the Highest Level of Golf and able to hold World Class Tournaments such as the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the Presidents Cup. This Course will create many Jobs, and have a tremendously positive Economic Development impact on Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area. Millions of Dollars will inure to the Capital area. The current Course is old, broken, dilapidated, and of no further use or effect. It is in very poor condition, with falling, dangerous, and disease infested trees and, importantly, a collapsing and hazardous seawall. When the East Potomac Course was originally built, it was famous for no trees, with views of Washington, D.C., for all to see, but now, it is completely overgrown, dysfunctional, and unsafe. Restoration work will begin on the Fazio Design on November 15th, when the old Course will be closed to play. The new Course will be opened in approximately 15 months. The United States Golf Association, PGA of America, and the PGA Tour have already been notified that they will soon have one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World to put on their list of great places to play, and hold Major Events. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP ( TS: Oct 18 2026, 10:09 AM ET )
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 18, 2026
反對改建的團體主張，現有球場為華盛頓地區球友提供負擔得起且易於進入的選擇，改建為更排他、職業級場地將損害他們的權益。批評者與當地高爾夫球友也質疑，孤立的海恩斯角（Hains Point）半島能否承受職業賽事帶來的交通壓力。川普周日分享的地圖顯示，新球場將覆蓋東波托馬克公園大部分區域，擬議的第12洞位於目前海恩斯角的公共野餐區與遊樂場上方。除市政球場外，島嶼周邊也是熱門騎行路線。
代表挑戰團體的「民主向前」（Democracy Forward）主席佩里曼（Skye Perryman）表示：「東波托馬克公園是國家公園、高爾夫球場與休閒設施，旨在供所有人享用。我們的訴訟旨在保護這座社區瑰寶，服務它所服務的人民與社區」。
RAPID CONTRADICTION | FEDERAL LAND FRIDAY: 169 TREES FIRST. SATURDAY: ALL 529 GONE. NOW HUNDREDS MORE TARGETED. The National Park Service outlined phased tree removal at D.C.'s historic East Potomac Golf Links. But according to an emergency court filing, contractors removed all 529 trees in ONE DAY. Then the government reportedly identified hundreds more. Preservationists sought emergency intervention. UPDATE: A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS NOW TEMPORARILY HALTED FURTHER TREE REMOVAL. The government calls the work maintenance. Its legality remains contested. THE COURT CAN STOP THE NEXT TREE FROM FALLING. IT CAN'T PUT THE FIRST 529 BACK.
— P a u l ◉ (@SkylineReport) October 12, 2026
川普數月來已示意將實現這項計畫，並於6月與內政部長伯根（Doug Burgum）及法齊奧一同參觀場地、研究藍圖。由於先前並無迫在眉睫的改建計畫，雷耶斯法官數月來猶豫是否預先阻止政府對現有球場做出任何改變，轉而要求司法部在進行重大變更前通知她。7月聽證會上，一名司法部律師表示尚未就球場命運做出決定。
內政部上周末清除數百棵樹木後，雷耶斯法官在聽證會上嚴詞譴責司法部未及時告知她，並指責政府「雙重說法」：在法庭上稱工作是計畫中的維護，儘管川普公開表達改造願景。她將4小時聽證會的大部分時間用來追查誰批准開工，並下令政府立即找來數名內政部高級官員作證，但僅聯繫到一人。
雷耶斯法官表示她試圖避免「扮演公園與娛樂部門」或干預景觀決策，但面對政府急於推進的跡象，她下令在10月26日前不得再砍伐任何樹木，以給反對團體回應時間。
誰授權這項工作，預計將成為聽證會的焦點。雷耶斯法官已下令內政部川普任命官員維舍（Gregory Wischer）與國家公園管理局代理局長鮑倫（Jessica Bowron）出庭作證。然而，司法部上周五升級對抗，提出動議要求雷耶斯法官迴避，引用她在聽證會上的挫折感來質疑其公正性。她下令雙方在周日下午提交回應。周日，雷耶斯法官還下令提出迴避動議的助理司法部長伍德沃德二世（Stanley Woodward Jr.）出席聽證會。
川普在周日貼文中重申政府在法庭上的論點：清除樹木是為了恢復1920年代原始設計的開闊視線。但上周政府表示樹木清除來自7年前的歷史修復概念，而川普似乎暗示這與他說將於11月15日開始建造的「法齊奧設計」（Fazio Design）有關。
