From Slavery to Pollution, National Park Employees Flagged Material Deemed ‘Disparaging’ to US

September 19, 2025

The Trump administration is reviewing signage, exhibits, and materials at federal parks that could be considered "disparaging" to Americans, following a March executive order directing the Interior Department to focus on American achievements and landscape beauty. National Park Service employees were required to flag "inappropriate" content by July 18, with materials about slavery, Native American cultural destruction, and climate change among those identified for review. The Interior Department plans to remove or cover inconsistent signage by September 17, while promising to maintain "full and accurate" historical narratives.

Who is affected

National park visitors who receive information from exhibits, signs, and educational materials
Black Americans and Indigenous peoples whose historical experiences are represented in park materials
Future generations learning about American history, climate change, and environmental issues
Park service employees who must implement the directive
Authors and publishers of books sold in park gift shops
The National Parks Conservation Association and advocacy organizations concerned about historical accuracy

What action is being taken

The Interior Department is reviewing all park signage and materials flagged as potentially "inappropriate" under the executive order
Employees are evaluating and flagging content about climate change, slavery, Indigenous history, and environmental impacts
The administration is planning to remove or cover materials deemed inconsistent with the executive order by September 17
Signs discussing pollution, climate change, slavery's brutality, and Native American forced relocations are being scrutinized
The department is collecting public feedback on park materials

Why it matters

The review could potentially sanitize or erase difficult but important aspects of American history
Educational content about climate change, environmental degradation, and historical injustices might be removed from public view
Accurate information about slavery's impact on Black Americans could be diminished
The more accurate portrayal of Indigenous history that has only developed in recent decades may be undermined
Understanding past environmental mistakes is crucial to avoid repeating them
Complete historical narratives help visitors understand complex American history

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article beyond the September 17 deadline for removing "inappropriate" material.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint