Former President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that Maryland Governor Wes Moore stopped renovation work on two golf courses at Joint Base Andrews, including a new nine‑hole course for wounded service members. The governor’s office rejected the allegation, saying the state has not halted any work and is still waiting for the Air Force to submit required environmental permits.

Trump’s allegation that Governor Moore halted the $X‑billion project

In a statement, Trump asserted that Governor Moore “attacked the U.S. Air Force and the military” by stopping the renovation of existing courses and the construction of a Jack Nicklaus‑designed nine‑hole course for injured soldiers.. He did not provide a specific timeline for when the work was allegedly stopped, but framed the claim as evidence of a broader political fight.

Governor’s office says Maryland has not halted the project

Ammar Moussa, senir press secretary for Governor Wes Moore, called Trump’s claim “bizarre fiction” and emphasized that Maryland has not taken any action to stop the work. According to Moussa, the state is actively coordinating with the Air Force on the permitting process, but the Air Force has not yet filed a single permit application with the Maryland Department of the Environment .

Permitting bottleneck threatens June 2026 start date

The Air Force originally slated construction to begin on June 15, 2026, with one course finished by July 2027 and the second by July 2028. However, unresolved storm‑water management questions and the Air Force’s failure to submit permits could push the start date beyond the two‑week window before the planned kickoff, according to the governor’s office.

Political backdrop: environmental rules and military projects

The dispute surfaces amid a growing partisan clash over how environmental regulations affect defense‑related construction. Trump’s criticism alligns with his broader strategy of targeting Democratic officials, while Governor Moore’s team has been focusing on cost‑of‑living issues and urging collaboration rather than confrontation.

Who will finallly approve the permits?

At present,the Maryland Department of the Environment has not received any permit applications from the Air Force, leaving the agency as the gatekeeper for the project’s future. Without a formal submission, it remains unclear whether the state can grant the needed storm‑water exemptions or if the timeline will be further delayed.

Open question: Will the Air Force submit permits before the June deadline?

The source does not confirm whether the Air Force intends to file the required paperwork in the next two weeks, leaving the June 2026 start date in doubt. Additionally, no independent verification of Trump’s claim has been provided, and the governor’s office offers no timeline for when the permitting process might be resolved.