By Michael Williams, CNN
(CNN) — The Trump administration is terminating a nonprofit’s management of three public Washington, DC, golf courses, in what may be the latest effort to put President Donald Trump’s stamp on local institutions.
The Department of the Interior said National Links Trust’s lease was terminated because the group defaulted on several aspects of its 50-year lease with the National Park Service to manage the courses. The nonprofit denied the allegations, saying on Wednesday that it fundamentally disagreed with the administration’s stance and is “devastated” by the termination.
In a statement announcing the termination, the organization said that while the courses will remain open, its long-term renovation projects will have to stop. It said it had invested $8.5 million in capital improvement projects at the courses since taking over the lease five years ago.
“We will continue to seek a dialogue with the administration to offer our experience, institutional knowledge, and strong community relationships to explore shared goals for these historic public assets,” National Links Trust said. “While this termination is a major setback, we remain stubbornly hopeful that a path forward can be found that preserves affordable and accessible public golf in the nation’s capital for generations to come.”
The nonprofit manages courses in DC’s Rock Creek Park; in the eastern part of the city just north of the under-demolition RFK Stadium; and on Hains Point, an island nestled on the Potomac River between DC and Virginia.
Trump suggested in an interview with the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that he was contemplating redeveloping the courses, saying, “If we do them, we’ll do it really beautifully.” He also said if he took control, DC residents would pay a lower rate than other golfers, according to the Journal.
The lease termination was first reported by The Washington Post, which said that the Department of the Interior issued its termination notice on Tuesday.
A White House spokesperson referred a request for comment to the Department of the Interior. That department said in a statement that the administration “prides itself on getting the job done for the American people and partnering with others who share that same goal.”
The Interior Department claimed that National Links Trust has failed to pay millions of dollars in rent owed under the contract, paying $0 in rent some years. It also accused the group of failing to produce a plan to remedy that default.
A copy of the lease agreement obtained by CNN shows that National Links Trust was allowed to offset the cost of its rent with approved capital improvement projects. The $8.5 million in capital improvements the group says it has invested is more than what the Interior Department says it owes in rent.
“We are fundamentally in disagreement with the administration’s characterization of NLT as being in default under the lease,” National Links Trust said in its statement. “We have always had a productive and cooperative working relationship with the National Park Service and have worked hand in hand on all aspects of our golf course operations and development projects.”
A person familiar with the operations at National Links Trust said the group is reserving its rights to explore legal options.
Since taking office a year ago, Trump has s