Ranking Members Heinrich and Merkley Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Efforts to Erase History on Public Lands

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) demanding answers from the National Park Service (NPS) following reports that NPS staff across the country are removing signage from national parks about slavery, Tribal history, and climate change.

The senators began the letter, "The Department of the Interior's decision to remove the exhibit deprives park visitors of a full and accurate understanding of American history."

The senators continued, "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."

The senators concluded the letter by requesting that Secretary Burgum detail the Department of the Interior's rationale for removing signage from national parks and whether the exhibits will be replaced.

In addition to Heinrich and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. 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.).

Read the full letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Burgum:

We write to express deep concern over the recent actions by the National Park Service (NPS) in removing an exhibit that provided valuable information about the enslaved people who lived and worked at the President's House, now a part of the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

The Department of the Interior's decision to remove the exhibit deprives park visitors of a full and accurate understanding of American history. 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 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. According to an article by The Washington Post, "Trump officials instructed staff to remove or edit signs and other informational materials in at least 17 additional parks in Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming." 1 National parks provide visitors with an opportunity to appreciate our nation's natural beauty and rich history while also serving as educational spaces that inform visitors across this country and the world.

Accordingly, we request that your Department provide responses to the following questions by March 10, 2026:

1. Since the issuance of President Trump's Executive Order, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History", how many exhibits has the Department removed or otherwise altered?

1. What specific information in the exhibit at the President's House in Philadelphia does the Department consider inaccurate? If the information is accurate, what is DOI's rationale for its removal?

1. Does the Department intend to remove or alter additional exhibits within National Park System units across the United States? If so, please provide the timeline and a comprehensive list of all exhibits under consideration, and the rational for removal.

1. Does the Department plan to replace all removed exhibits from national parks? If so, when will this occur, and what sources or historical documentation will inform the revised content?

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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