Judge launches formal probe into DOJ claims after $400 million estimate

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. told a federal court on Friday that repairing the crumbling seawall at East Potomac Park will cost between $150 million and $400 million. The figure emerged during a four-hour hearing where District Judge Ana Reyes pressed the Justice Department attorney on the timing of the administration's plans to close the park and renovate the municipal golf course.

The legal dispute began in February when local historic preservation advocates and golfers filed suit. The conflict intensified earlier this month when the Trump administration cut down hundreds of trees with less than a day's notice. Reyes halted the clearing and major renovations on Monday, citing a lack of proper approvals. The government has appealed that order.

For months, Justice Department attorneys argued that no final plan existed for the golf course, despite President Trump's social media announcements to the contrary. On Wednesday night, lawyers for the Interior Department and National Park Service submitted a filing acknowledging a plan to transform the course into a championship-level venue. They stated that the National Park Service would submit a design by Tom Fazio to the National Capital Planning Commission on Friday. The filing confirmed that the course will close as of the close of business on or before November 15.

Reyes opened the hearing by quoting D.C. Bar Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3, which prohibits lawyers from knowingly making false statements to the court. She asked Woodward if he had anything to correct. "Not to my knowledge," Woodward replied, noting he had not read every transcript. "We have lots of binders," he added. Reyes responded, "I bet you do."

The judge questioned why officials had not mentioned the renovation plans or the seawall repairs in previous hearings, including a seven-hour session. Woodward claimed the submission to the planning commission had been in the works for several weeks. Reyes challenged this, asking if officials were drafting the design while representing to the court that no plan existed.

Reyes announced she would open a formal inquiry into whether agency and Justice Department attorneys made misrepresentations. She stated the investigation may be led by a special master with full investigatory powers. If the government rejects the special master, Reyes said she will conduct the inquiry herself. She ordered the government to preserve all relevant documents to prevent the loss of evidence.

The closure will remove public access to recreational areas and much of the three-mile perimeter loop used by runners and cyclists. Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron stated in a declaration that the century-old seawalls are compromised, leaving sidewalk sections underwater twice daily. On Wednesday, Trump posted that golf balls had hit a White House staffer in the chest, calling the course dangerous. Rep. Jared Huffman sent a letter to appropriations leaders proposing language to block federal money for the seawall project to prevent the golf course redesign.