Conservation Groups Sue to Restore History at U.S. National Parks

Lawsuit alleges Trump administration policies have forced removal of exhibits on slavery, civil rights, and climate change

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A coalition of conservation and historical organizations has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging that National Park Service policies under the Trump administration have forced the removal or censorship of exhibits that share factually accurate U.S. history and scientific knowledge, including about slavery, civil rights, and climate change. The lawsuit comes as a federal judge ordered the restoration of an exhibit about enslaved people at George Washington's former home in Philadelphia.

Why it matters

The lawsuit highlights growing concerns that the Trump administration's efforts to 'restore truth and sanity to American history' have led to the suppression of important historical and scientific information at national parks, which serve as educational resources for the public. The case raises questions about the role of politics in shaping the presentation of history and science at federally managed sites.

The details

The lawsuit was filed by a coalition that includes the National Parks Conservation Association, American Association for State and Local History, Association of National Park Rangers, and Union of Concerned Scientists. It alleges that the park service has flagged for removal interpretive materials describing key moments in the civil rights movement, such as at the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama, and has ordered the removal of materials at Glacier National Park that describe the effects of climate change. The lawsuit also challenges the park service's removal of a rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York.

  • On February 16, a federal judge ordered the restoration of an exhibit about nine people enslaved by George Washington at his former home in Philadelphia.
  • In January 2021, President Trump issued an executive order 'restoring truth and sanity to American history' at the nation's museums, parks, and landmarks.
  • In February 2026, the lawsuit was filed in Boston.

The players

Donald Trump

Former President of the United States who issued an executive order directing the removal of 'improper partisan ideology' from museums, monuments, and other public exhibits.

Doug Burgum

Interior Secretary under the Trump administration who directed the removal of 'improper partisan ideology' from federal sites.

National Parks Conservation Association

A nonprofit organization that works to protect and enhance America's national parks, and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Cynthia Rufe

A federal judge who compared the Trump administration's actions to the totalitarian regime in George Orwell's '1984' and ordered the restoration of an exhibit about enslaved people at George Washington's former home.

Jeff Mow

A former superintendent at Glacier National Park who criticized the Trump administration's order as a 'disservice' to the public.

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What they’re saying

“Censoring science and erasing America's history at national parks are direct threats to everything these amazing places, and our country, stand for.”

— Alan Spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources, National Parks Conservation Association

“National parks serve as living classrooms for our country, where science and history come to life for visitors. As Americans, we deserve national parks that tell stories of our country's triumphs and heartbreaks alike. We can handle the truth.”

— Alan Spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources, National Parks Conservation Association

“You cannot tell the story of America without recognizing both the beauty and the tragedy of our history.”

— Skye Perryman, President and CEO, Democracy Forward

What’s next

The Interior Department has appealed the court's ruling in the Philadelphia case, and the lawsuit challenging the removal's legality is ongoing. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how national parks present historical and scientific information to the public.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tension between preserving factual, comprehensive historical and scientific narratives at national parks and the political pressure to shape those narratives. The case underscores the importance of maintaining the educational integrity of these public spaces, which serve as vital resources for understanding America's complex past and present.