The Trump administration has approached the Washington Commanders about potentially overseeing the historic Langston Golf Course in Northeast Washington, according to people familiar with the discussions. Interior Department officials contacted the NFL team’s charitable foundation last month about possibly helping manage or renovate the course, which sits less than a mile from the Commanders’ planned stadium at the former RFK Stadium site.
A team spokesperson said they were asked to evaluate a role in the renovation of Langston Golf Course adjacent to the future home of RFK stadium and are studying the needs of this historic facility that has contributed significantly to D.C.’s golf history. However, the Commanders are unlikely to take on the project because operating a golf course falls outside the foundation’s typical work, which focuses on community initiatives.
The outreach comes as the administration searches for a new long-term operator for Langston after it terminated its lease with the nonprofit National Links Trust late last year. Federal officials stated that the nonprofit failed to meet financial and development obligations under its agreement, including required improvements and rent payments, while the organization has strongly disputed those claims and said it invested millions of dollars in the courses.
A Department of Interior spokesperson emphasized the agency’s commitment to continuing relationships with local golf communities to ensure these courses are safe, beautiful, open, affordable, enjoyable and accessible. “President Trump has made affordability a cornerstone of this administration, and this project will be no exception,” they added.
The administration has offered limited public details about its long-term plans for the courses. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in upgrading nearby East Potomac into a high-end or championship-level facility, raising questions about the future of public golf in the nation’s capital.
Langston Golf Course, opened in 1939 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has long served as a cultural and community hub, particularly for Black golfers who were excluded from other courses during segregation. The course has hosted generations of players and community programs and remains one of the most historically significant public golf venues in Washington, drawing tens of thousands of rounds annually.
The National Links Trust continues to operate the courses on an interim basis while federal officials determine a long-term plan, leaving the future of Langston uncertain.
