White House East Wing Excavation Soil Relocated to East Potomac Golf Links After Testing

Construction crews have deposited more than 2,000 truckloads of excavated soil from the White House East Wing at the East Potomac Golf Links, two miles from the White House. A recent interim sampling report published by the National Park Service and conducted by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

found the soil collected last month at the East Potomac Golf Links tested positive for lead, chromium, and other toxic metals.

As of April 2026, 30,000 cubic yards of rubble had been collected from the demolished East Wing. In October 2025, President Donald Trump announced the administration would begin a privately-funded $400 million renovation of the White House East Wing that would culminate in the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

The renovation was justified publicly as a “secure military complex” and a national security measure.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declared there was “no better example of why this ballroom is necessary” after a gunman charged a security checkpoint and opened fire at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner in 2026. The 90,000-square-foot ballroom may now cost taxpayers up to $1 billion due to updated security enhancements.

President Donald Trump plans to renovate the East Potomac Golf Links into a “world-class” facility.

’s three public courses, including East Potomac Golf Links, in December 2025, though the nonprofit still maintains the property. This month, The Washington Post reported that a top fundraiser for Trump is looking for donations to a nonprofit to support the president’s plans to renovate the Waterfront area south of the National Mall.

President Warren G. Harding was among the first to use the East Potomac Golf Links. The public East Potomac Golf Links course costs about $42 for 18 holes of play. A membership for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort cost $1 million as of 2024.

In February 2026, the nonprofit DC Preservation League and two residents filed an injunction claiming the dumped debris was hazardous. The DC Preservation League filed an emergency stay order earlier this week following reports that major renovations on the East Potomac Golf Links would begin on Monday.

““Historic preservation is about maintaining the qualities that make a site an asset—affordability, openness, and architectural significance—rather than allowing for exclusive redevelopment.””

““Losing this golf course would impact our shared history and limit public access to one of the District’s vital recreation and green spaces.” — Rebecca Miller A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior stated: “The soil was tested, multiple times by multiple parties, and this project passed all standards set by law.” The spokesperson added that the testing process was “followed to ensure the transfer was safe for the public.” Fortune reported the statements. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the administration in December 2025, asking district courts to block the White House ballroom addition until the completion of design reviews, environmental assessments, public dialogue, and Congressional debate and ratification. Last year, the Trump administration replaced the central lawn of the White House Rose Garden with a paved patio. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes told the U.S. government to not cut down more than 10 trees at the golf course without providing notice. U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes stopped short of issuing a temporary restraining order against the National Park Service. U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes said: “I’m no Amy Poehler.””