Court Allows National Parks to Continue Removing Controversial Displays

The Trump administration has received approval from a federal appeals court to continue removing signs and exhibits related to slavery, climate change, and other sensitive topics from national parks. This decision temporarily overturns a lower court ruling that had blocked the National Park Service from executing President Trump’s directive to remove materials deemed ‘inappropriate’ or ‘woke.’

In January, a slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia was dismantled under this directive. The executive order ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History’ calls for national park displays to avoid disparaging Americans, instead focusing on national progress and the country’s natural beauty.

As a result, informational plaques on slavery, climate change, and Indigenous people have been removed from sites such as Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Fort Sumter in South Carolina, and Acadia National Park in Maine.

Last month, Judge Angel Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts had paused further removals and mandated the restoration of altered exhibits. Her ruling highlighted the role of national parks in educating the public on challenging historical issues and contributions from marginalized groups. She emphasized the diverse history showcased across various parks, such as Harpers Ferry, the Stonewall National Monument, and Glacier National Park.

However, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has unanimously decided in favor of the Trump administration. Chief Judge David J. Barron, along with Judges Julie Rikelman and Gustavo A. Gelpí, found that the directive did not pose irreparable harm to the suing parties, which include the National Parks Conservation Association and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.

Brooke Menschel, representing the plaintiffs, expressed disappointment at the setback, noting its timing during a period when many Americans are expected to visit national parks for the semiquincentennial weekend. The Interior Department has yet to comment on the court’s decision.

Contributions to the report were made by Mattathias Schwartz in Philadelphia, while Maxine Joselow, reporting from Washington, specializes in climate change and environmental topics for The Times.