Park rangers across the country have been waiting months for clear guidance on which historical exhibits to change—and getting almost none. Nine months after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered national parks to remove content that “inappropriately disparages” Americans, the effort is mired in confusion and missed deadlines, according to E&E News reporter Heather Richards.
Parks flagged more than 600 exhibits for potential revision, covering everything from slavery to violence against Native Americans to climate change. The volume immediately overwhelmed the agency. “They bit off way more than they could chew,” one person familiar with the process told Richards.
The small NPS team of historians and interpretation specialists created to evaluate the flagged materials stopped meeting in early August, with acting director Jessica Bowron absorbing much of the decision-making responsibility herself. E&E reports that Bowron issued the direct order to remove panels regarding slavery from the President’s House site in Philadelphia earlier this year.
The most recent NPS implementation deadline passed Jan. 16 with most parks still waiting. A park superintendent told E&E the process had reached a “nebulous” phase, with some parks moving ahead and others standing still.
The chaos has led to pushback from historians and Indigenous groups. At Little Bighorn Battlefield, NPS flagged a panel describing federal boarding schools as having “violently erased” Indigenous culture—language the park noted was agreed upon through tribal consultation and backed by a 2024 Interior Department investigative report. Last month, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council voted 11-0 to oppose changes to the visitor center it helped curate.
“This attempt to change or remove tribal markers and monuments dims the light of the healing and progress we have all made,” said Northern Cheyenne Vice President Ernest Littlemouth.
Quick hits
Burgum’s history erasure effort mired in chaos as historians and Indigenous groups push back
E&E News | PEN America | Bismarck Tribune (Opinion)
Christian nationalist messaging in Trump’s Freedom 250 sparks debate over religious freedom and history
Trump org files trademarks to put the president’s name front and center on America’s 250th
Members of Congress join court fight against Trump’s arch plans
National Parks Traveler | E&E News
Monday was a bad day to depend on fossil fuels
Coal and natural gas prices jump on Middle East war, Energy secretary warns high gas prices will last for weeks
Bloomberg | Natural Gas Intel | Colorado Sun | The Hill
Congress targets public land protections in a new way
Judge throws out Wyoming oil and gas project approved by first Trump administration
Quote of the day
What makes the United States strong is its pluralism. Embracing many cultures is central to our national identity. By sidelining Indigenous voices, Secretary Burgum fails to uphold that ideal. More than 31,000 Native Americans live in North Dakota — about 5% of the state’s population — and our communities remain the original stewards of these public lands. Native voices must be central to any policy decisions affecting how our history is told.”
—Jody Delong, North Dakota Native Vote, Bismarck Triubune
Picture This
ho doesn’t love a good nap? 🙋🏻 At state parks, we have all kinds of places for you to take a 💤 to feel rejuvenated from all the chaos. On #NationalNappingDay, we’re sharing wildlife enjoying some 💤 – some on roofs because why not, others under a shaded tree or just curled up, nice and cozy. Which is your favorite napping wildlife?
Find your very own napping spot at Parks.ca.gov/Find-A-Park
Some napping benefits:
💤 Increases alertness and performance
💤 Improves memory and learning
💤 Enhances mood and reduces stress