Interior Department working to close East Potomac Golf Course

And welcome in tonight here at 10 on Fox Local. We start with the new development in the fight over the East Potomac golf links tonight. The Interior Department acknowledged it is working towards shutting it down in November. And this comes as golfers warn the president's plan could put public access at risk. Fox 5's Regina Ureta is live at the course with their reaction. Regina? Yeah, well, Jim and Angie, for the first time, the Interior Department is acknowledging and writing that the Trump administration is moving toward closing the East Potomac golf course on November 15 to convert it into a championship-level makeover. But critics say the plan is another attempt by the president to leave his mark on the nation's capital, and they're fighting back in court. It is just, frankly, disgusting that they are trying to do this. It's also disgusting that they're not following the law to actually do this. That's what this whole court case has actually been about. We haven't even gotten to the merits of the case yet. All we've been arguing is about whether there are any merits to this case. now a federal judge has already issued a preliminary injunction requiring a 10-day notice before any closure the judge also barred the removal or damage of trees to the park but according to a court filing the interior department is developing a plan to carry out the president's project and says it will notify the court it comes one day after president trump posted on truth social about a potential november 15th date and after months of legal battles between golfers and the administration just weeks ago the chief executive cut down more than 400 trees without notice worrying locals that it was the beginning of renovations. Now a hearing on the park's future is expected to be scheduled by a judge in the coming days. For golfers and park users they fear a championship level course could turn a public recreation space into a destination for the wealthy putting affordable access at risk. Give something to people that they can afford anyone can come here you've got cyclists out there if you have many golfers you know you got runners You have people who just want to come out here and whack golf balls after work. Leave it alone. I don't really want to pay a whole bunch of money to go to a country club when I have such a beautiful park right here. There aren't really any other free golf courses that are accessible to me. And just to give additional background about the park, Congress created it in 1897, calling it a space for recreation and pleasure for the people. Now critics also say the impacts aren't just limited to the golf course. The space is located on Haynes Point. They warn a closure could also disrupt major community events, including the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile and 5K that runs through this area. We also reached out to the Interior Department for additional comment on this new court filing and the potential closure of November on November 15th. But we did not hear back. Jim and.