U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Jeff Merkley of Oregon have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), expressing concern over reports that the National Park Service (NPS) is removing signage from national parks that addresses slavery, Tribal history, and climate change.
In their letter, Heinrich and Merkley state, “The Department of the Interior’s decision to remove the exhibit deprives park visitors of a full and accurate understanding of American history.” They further write, “Removing or sanitizing exhibits that depict the realities of our past sets a dangerous precedent by signaling that history can simply be erased or altered when those in power do not like the truth presented—opening the door for future administrations to do the same. A core responsibility of the NPS is to preserve and interpret history based on facts and not political preferences.”
The senators highlight what they describe as an ongoing trend: “The removal of exhibits by NPS has become a troubling trend sadly. Not only has this Administration ordered the removal of exhibits related to slavery, it has ordered national parks around the country to remove exhibits or signage related to Native American history, climate change, and environmental impacts.” Citing The Washington Post, they note that officials instructed staff at 17 parks across several states—including Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming—to remove or edit informational materials.
They have requested Secretary Burgum provide details about how many exhibits have been removed since President Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” clarification regarding any inaccurate information in specific exhibits such as at Philadelphia’s President’s House site, plans for further removals or alterations across other national park sites, timelines involved in these changes, as well as whether removed displays will be replaced with new content informed by historical documentation.
Additional signatories include Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).
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