Grant agreements national park friends groups have with the National Park Foundation (NPF) are under review to ensure they are in sync with all executive and secretarial orders issued by the Trump administration.

The review directive (attached below) was sent to all National Park Service regional directors, associate and assistant regional directors, and superintendents. It gives them until Friday to review all grants issued through the NPF and philanthropic agreements identified under Director's Order 21, which provides guidance on donations and philanthropic partnerships and clarifies how and where donors can be acknowledged, to ensure they "are accepted and in accordance with the EOs and SOs" from the Trump administration.

While it doesn't appear that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has issued any orders that could affect grants — the orders he's issued so far focus on energy development and deregulation — some of President Donald Trump's executive orders could be in play with the grants. For instance, the president has issued executive orders that:

• Requires that each "educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution"
• Directs removal of references to DEI and DEIA principles from contracts, termination of "all 'diversity,' 'equity,' 'equitable decision-making,' 'equitable deployment of financial and technical assistance,' 'advancing equity,' and like mandates, requirements, programs, or activities, as appropriate," and "encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI."

The memorandum has prompted many friends groups to review their work plans to see if any activities conflict with the administration's actions around DEI and climate change and climate-change mitigation.

"If a project funded through an active grant agreement conflicts with an EO or SO, the park or program should work with the NPF to revise the project and agreement as needed to ensure compliance with all EOs and SOs no later than April 4,2025," the directive stateds. "If the project cannot be revised to comply with all EOs and SOs, follow the steps in the grant agreement to terminate the agreement."