Interior Department Denies Draft Plan to Revise U.S. History at National Parks, Vows Accountability for Leak

The U.S. Interior Department has pushed back against reports that the Trump administration planned sweeping revisions to historical content at national park sites, after an internal database detailing proposed changes was made public. First reported by The Washington Post, the draft database suggested efforts to revise or remove references to African-American history, LGBTQ rights, climate change, and other topics across hundreds of National Park Service locations. In response, a department spokesperson said the documents were “draft, deliberative internal materials” and did not reflect final decisions or official policy.

According to the spokesperson, the narrative surrounding the database is “false,” alleging that the internal working documents were edited in a way that misrepresented their intent before being released. The department labeled the disclosure inappropriate and illegal, though it did not specify which laws were allegedly violated. Officials also stated that employees responsible for altering and leaking the records would be held accountable. The National Park Service operates under the Department of the Interior.

President Donald Trump has previously targeted cultural and historical institutions — including museums, monuments, and national parks — in an effort to remove what he describes as “anti-American” ideology. His executive actions have led to the dismantling of certain slavery-related exhibits and the restoration of Confederate monuments, moves that civil rights advocates argue could reverse decades of social progress. The administration has also taken steps against internal dissent, including placing Federal Emergency Management Agency staff on leave and dismissing Environmental Protection Agency employees who publicly criticized government policies.

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