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Judge temporarily blocks Trump from closing Washington DC golf course for renovation

Judge temporarily blocks Trump from closing Washington DC golf course for renovation

It is the latest development in a months-long challenge to the president's plans for East Potomac Golf Links.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the US government's closure of a historic golf course and park in Washington DC.

US District Judge Ana Reyes has been overseeing a months-long challenge to the president's plans for East Potomac Golf Links, which he said would be closed from 15 November for extensive renovations.

Reyes has said Donald Trump cannot close the park or its golf course, but added that his administration was not required to actively manage either.

Trump, an avid golfer, has said his plans to upgrade the 106-year-old course will create "one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World". The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.

Declaring the current course "Trash Island", he announced in October it would be renovated over 15 months to create a space that "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" - despite the ongoing litigation.

In a 30-page decision issued on Saturday, Reyes said the Trump administration's justifications for the proposed course closures were pretextual, and that the government violated at least two federal laws "to meet an arbitrary deadline."

"The Government proposes to close a historic park, daily enjoyed by Washingtonians of all stripes, indefinitely," Reyes wrote.

In brief

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the US government's closure of a historic golf course and park in Washington DC. Reyes has said Donald Trump cannot close the park or its golf course, but added that his administration was not required to actively manage either. "The Government proposes to close a historic park, daily enjoyed by Washingtonians of all stripes, indefinitely," Reyes wrote.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to BBC News — World. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at BBC News — World ↗

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