Key facts
- The Trump administration requested national park visitors report "negative" historical information.
- An analysis of 35,000 public comments showed a majority criticized the directive itself.
- Commenters expressed concerns about erasing history and a "snitch" culture.
- At least 59 signs and exhibits have been removed or altered, according to a watchdog group.
- Changes affected exhibits on topics like slavery, climate change, and diversity initiatives.
The Trump administration's directive, issued in 2025, asked visitors to U.S. national parks to report any displays or exhibits containing "negative" information about Americans, past or present. However, an analysis by the Associated Press of approximately 35,000 public comments, released following a lawsuit, revealed that the majority of responses were critical of the initiative itself.
Many visitors used the comment period to express opposition to the directive, with some calling it "un-American" and a promotion of a "snitch" culture. A significant portion of the comments, over half according to the AP analysis, constituted a backlash against the administration's effort to reframe historical narratives.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's order aimed to remove "inappropriate content" and emphasize the "beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes" and America's "extraordinary heritage." This followed President Donald Trump's executive order on "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The goal was to create "solemn and uplifting public monuments." However, a watchdog group called Save Our Signs has documented at least 59 instances of signs or exhibits being removed or modified. These changes reportedly affected displays on topics such as slavery, climate change, women's rights, and Native American history.
Specific examples of flagged content included exhibits at Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park concerning enslaved individuals under George Washington, which were later restored under a judge's order. Other comments criticized signs at the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site and Booker T. Washington National Monument for allegedly pushing modern political agendas like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory.
The administration has been largely vague about the specific changes made. An Interior spokesperson stated that "in many cases across the system, flagged materials remain unchanged," without detailing which exhibits were altered or would be. Locations mentioned by Save Our Signs where changes occurred include Acadia National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.