Coast Guard Confirms Changes to Accommodate the Public in New Security Plan on Potomac River

Press Release

Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation John Garamendi (D-CA) applauded a decision made by Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, to accommodate the public on a portion of the Potomac River adjacent to President Trump's Virginia golf course. Previously, the Coast Guard had announced it would close off public access to a two-mile stretch of river when President Trump or "high-ranking officials" chose to play golf at the Trump National Golf Course.

Admiral Zukunft confirmed changes to an interim final rule in an exchange with DeFazio during a hearing in the Subcommittee on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation today.

"I applaud Admiral Zukunft for listening to our concerns, and the concerns of hundreds of members of the public who spoke out against the proposal to close the Potomac River to the public when President Trump and "high-ranking officials' decide to go golfing. As we said in our letter, the Potomac River is a shared resource, held for public use and for economic benefit. Kids, veterans, and other kayakers, boaters, jet skiers, and anglers shouldn't be denied access to this resource, and I am happy that the Coast Guard will change the interim rule to maintain public access," said DeFazio.

"President Trump's frequent recreation at his golf resorts shouldn't prevent the public from enjoying their own recreation on the Potomac River. I appreciate the efforts of Admiral Zukunft and the Coast Guard to preserve access to this valuable recreational and economic resource," said Garamendi.

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