Internal emails obtained from the National Park Service reveal that officials raised repeated concerns about the Trump administration's plan to lease nearly 40 acres of Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., including the Rock Creek Tennis Center.

Park Service staff warned that the proposal violated federal regulations protecting public access, threatened the habitat of the endangered Hays Spring amphipod, and exceeded the boundaries requested by the expected lease applicant, local businessman Mark Ein.Emails indicate that officials coordinated with Ein prior to the formal bidding process, raising ethical and legal concerns.Despite objections, leadership approved a larger lease area, overriding warnings about environmental impact and potential legal challenges.

The Interior Department maintains that the lease complies with all laws, but as of June 2026, no agreement has been finalized, and federal officials have not publicly explained the delay.