White House East Wing debris dumped at nearby golf course has toxic metals, a report says
Source: Associated Press, via WTOP
White House East Wing debris dumped at nearby golf course has toxic metals, a report says
The Associated Press
May 5, 2026, 2:16 PM

East Potomac Golf Course A pile of debris is seen in the background as Roman Sandal, right, prepares to putt at the East Potomac Golf Course, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP photo/Julie Demaree Nikhinson)
AP photo/Julie Demaree Nikhinson
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Debris from the demolition of the White House East Wing that was dumped at a nearby public golf course has tested positive for lead, chromium and other toxic metals, the National Park Service said.
An interim report by a Virginia engineering firm says the toxic metals, along with PCBs, pesticides, petroleum byproducts and other chemicals were detected at levels above laboratory reporting limits in soil at the East Potomac Golf Links, a historic golf course that President Donald Trump plans to renovate.
The park service began dumping debris from the East Wing onto the golf course in October, and more than 30,000 cubic yards (810,000 cubic feet) of excavated soil had been transported to the site as of last month, the report by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. said. The report was requested by the park service.
The nonprofit DC Preservation League has sued the Trump administration, arguing that the dumping was unlawful and possibly hazardous. The group also is challenging the Republican administration's takeover of the golf course, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) southeast of the White House, and others in the city.
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Read more: https://wtop.com/sports/2026/05/white-house-east-wing-debris-dumped-at-nearby-golf-course-has-toxic-metals-a-report-says/
Which means that the workers were exposed to toxic materials too.
The NPS employee who requested the report will be transferred to the Point McMurdo office.
harumph
(3,368 posts)Asbestos
And all of it transported in un-covered Trucks.......
leftieNanner
(16,164 posts)But don't worry. It will take years before the mesothelioma kicks in.
/S
KT2000
(22,197 posts)It would have a lot of stuff in it that would be illegal now. It does not matter because people using a public golf course are not wealthy and worthy.
Bayard
(30,125 posts)But I am pissed and insulted that trump would think this was okay. He didn't own the East Wing, and he does not own this golf course.
He thinks he can just shit on everything.
displacedvermoter
(4,893 posts)slightlv
(7,899 posts)but I know it takes skill to those who are honest in the game. However, this does put a new slant on trump's insistence on destroying the public golf course and taking it private for his gain. Not only is it closer to him, and he could charge whatever he wants, it could be gilt lined and radiated with all the extra poisoned dirt, etc., from his destroying our beloved East Wing. It never ends... the grift is everywhere.
Aussie105
(8,123 posts)Unless there is a contract that stipulates details of the safe disposal of building rubble, the contractors will dump it where it is the cheapest and easiest way to do it.
The building rubble from the 911 Trade Centre destruction took 9 months to clean up.
https://www.restonyc.com/where-did-911-rubble-go/
On a much smaller scale, we had a bathroom reno.
Guy declared the job finished until I pointed out the pile of rubble outside the front door.
He didn't look happy, but he cleaned it up.
Indyfan53
(541 posts)Go ahead and get in 18 holes out there. Take in the air and play often