U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led a group of Senate Democrats on Mar. 12 in criticizing the Trump administration's actions regarding historical content in America's national parks.
The senators said these actions are significant because they affect how Americans understand their nation's history and the stories told at national parks. They argued that removing references to difficult parts of U.S. history undermines efforts to preserve an honest account for future generations.
Heinrich said, “When we erase information about who we are... when we silence people’s stories... we promote a narrative that ignores and manipulates what truly happened. Right now, President Trump is dumbing down our history. He is cheapening our National Parks. But he will not take our history from us. We will tell these stories again and again, and again. As long as it takes, and long after HE is relegated to the history books.”
Senator Jeff Merkley added, “This year, we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America. That history is complicated. Some of it is marked by extraordinary achievements. Some of it is marred by significant failings. And no one person has the right to erase any of it.” Merkley continued, “It is the responsibility of every generation of Americans to protect our national treasures and pass down the story of our hard-fought freedoms. Let’s start by protecting our National Parks.”
Senator Angus King said, “The United States has a fantastic history – it’s an extraordinary history of triumphs, and of achievements, but we also have dark periods of our history... I would argue one of our great triumphs is overcoming those dark periods in our history.” King continued, “The American people can handle the truth; they can understand what happened; they can understand why it was evil, and the struggles that took place in order to overcome the dark portions of our history. Whitewashing our history is lying about our history, and it’s underestimating the American people.”
Senator Mazie Hirono stated, “From stripping land protections and gutting park staff, to ordering the removal of exhibits about climate change and darker parts of our nation’s history, Trump and his regime are relentlessly attacking our national parks.” She added that she will continue working with colleagues "to ensure that we protect our national park sites for future generations."
