Judge Orders Trump Officials Unmasked Over DC Golf Plan
A federal judge forced the Justice Department to disclose which Interior employees worked on President Trump's East Potomac golf course plan. On Friday, she warned of contempt proceedings if officials destroy related records.
3 Interior employees were named, including Deputy Chief of Staff Gregory Wischer.
DOJ sought sealing, citing death threats and privacy concerns for staff.
Reyes ordered records preserved dating to Aug. 1, 2025.
Whistleblowers told House Democrats that project records were already destroyed.
Why it matters: Reyes is investigating whether the government misled her about redesign plans. For weeks, officials said no closure was imminent, then confirmed a Nov. 15 closure in filings.
Hundreds of trees were cut before a declaration denying any redesign link.
Reyes moved to appoint former U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu as special master.
Judge Orders Trump Officials Unmasked Over DC Golf PlanYou are hereLatest
How 6 sources split on this story
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6 sources · 15 articles · 50% Left coverage
Where they split: The administration says safety problems, including a decaying seawall, require closing the park, while preservationists and golfers who sued call safety a pretext for building an exclusive course.
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left sees an administration that changed its account of the project and resisted disclosure, and a judge holding it accountable.
What’s next: The government must list everyone who received the records order by 6 p.m. Monday. Those people could face sanctions or contempt if records are destroyed.
The National Links Trust stops operating the course after this weekend.
Were any records destroyed before or after the judge's preservation order?
Will the Justice Department's challenge to the special master succeed?
Can the park close Sunday while the lawsuit is pending?
