$400 million: The price tag for East Potomac's crumbling seawall

Federal lawyers told a D.C. court on Friday that repairing the deteriorating seawall at East Potomac Park could cost up to $400 million. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. provided the estimate during a four-hour hearing before District Judge Ana Reyes. The government has not yet disclosed the separate cost for the golf course renovations.

Reyes initiated a formal inquiry into whether administration officials misstated the status of the project. She cited D.C. Bar Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3, which bars attorneys from making false statements to the court. Woodward told the judge he had no corrections to make, noting that he had not read every transcript in the case file.

The judge questioned why the administration waited until Wednesday to confirm a plan to close the park. Government filings acknowledged a proposal to transform the municipal course into a championship-level venue designed by Tom Fazio. The new lease agreement with the National Links Trust requires the nonprofit to stop operating East Potomac by November 15.

Reyes ordered the government to preserve all relevant documents to prevent the loss of evidence. She stated that the inquiry may be led by a special master with full investigatory powers. If the government rejects that appointment, Reyes will conduct the investigation herself. She clarified that opening the probe does not mean the court has found a violation of professional obligations.

The administration argues the closure is necessary to address safety hazards caused by the crumbling seawall. Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron stated that large sections of the sidewalk are underwater twice daily. The government claims the century-old structure is in significant disrepair and poses a risk of people falling into the Potomac River.

Reyes extended her ban on tree removal and required 10 days' written notice before any closure. The administration appealed that order. Rep. Jared Huffman sent a letter to appropriations leaders asking them to block federal funding for the seawall repairs. He proposed language to prevent money from being used for golf course redesigns or land reshaping.

The legal dispute began in February when local preservation advocates filed suit. Trump administration officials had previously told the court that no final plan existed. Reyes described the case as involving more than just golf, noting that the Department of Justice rarely urges a court not to believe the sitting president.