Judge temporarily blocks Trump from closing Washington DC golf course for renovation

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the US government's closure of a historic golf course and park in Washington DC. US District Judge Ana Reyes has been overseeing a months-long challenge to the president's plans for East Potomac Golf Links, which he said would be closed from 15 November for extensive renovations.

Reyes has said Donald Trump cannot close the park or its golf course, but added that his administration was not required to actively manage either. Trump, an avid golfer, has said his plans to upgrade the 106-year-old course will create "one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World".

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment. In a 30-page decision issued on Saturday, Reyes said the Trump administration's justifications for the proposed course closures were pretextual, and that the government violated at least two federal laws "to meet an arbitrary deadline." "The Government proposes to close a historic park, daily enjoyed by Washingtonians of all stripes, indefinitely," Reyes wrote.