Interior Secretary Urged To Protect Parks And Rangers

Hundreds of comments being sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum from national park visitors urge him to protect the parks and their rangers and see that history is truthfully presented.

Some of the comments, obtained by the National Parks Conservation Association, say the National Park Service needs more money to protect and manage the National Park System. Some also pushed back on the secretary's request that park travelers point out interpretative signs that disparage "either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features."

"Yosemite is awesome! Stop cutting funds for staffing, research, and visitor services," read one. "I want to know ALL US history, not just what the government tells me to know. As a country, we need to know the history of all Americans, not just about white men. Hands off my parks!"

Another vistor wrote that, "[T]he executive order asking for feedback is ****. Parks already do an amazing job telling stories that contain hard truths and everyone is entitled to the truth to make better decisions in our lives. So what if people feel bad? The Sierra Miwok band of Indian deserves to have their story told. Honesty, truth, facts and science are truly the values I demand when seeking out national parks."

Among other comments were calls for better housing for park employees, repairs to historic structures, and more information on climate change. There also were calls for the Trump administration to return information on LGBT and transgender individuals to Stonewall National Monument's website.

"The enabling legislation and presidential proclamation established the park to tell the story of the 'lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights movement.' But the story of transgender people has been erased from the park and its website. This is a rewriting of history, and against the establishment of the park," read one comment.

Some did offer criticisms, such as one from Valley Forge National Historical Park complaining about an interpretive program where the ranger "included speculation about Baron von Steuben's sexuality. The ranger stated, without any definitive historical evidence, that von Steuben was **** and referred to it as a 'rumored fact.' When I questioned this, she admitted there was no proof but still treated the suggestion as part of his historical identity. ... I respectfully ask that you review the interpretive content being shared by your staff and provide appropriate guidance on sticking to documented history in public-facing presentations."

And this one from Yellowstone National Park: "The bison were great. But the bison delayed traffic. There were so many bison!"

One from Manassas National Battlefield Park said, "[T]he statute of Stonewall Jackson is incredibly offensive and should be removed. Our tax dollars should not be glorifying the Confederacy."

At NPCA, President and CEO Theresa Pierno said the overwhelming majority of the comments demostrated that "people love their national parks and deeply value the dedicated staff who protect them every day. It’s clear this administration is completely out of step with the American people when it comes to safeguarding these treasured places and the stories they tell."

"The Trump administration is trying to erase and rewrite history. But that’s not what the American people want," she added Thursday. "Park visitors are asking for more inclusive storytelling, especially signage that honors tribal histories and voices. And we couldn’t agree more. Our national parks should reflect the full complexity of the land, its beauty, its past, and the people who have shaped it for generations. 

"The American public doesn’t support firing park staff, gutting interpretation and putting our most treasured places at risk," the NPCA president said. "From Zion to Yosemite, and Saratoga to Padre Island, visitors are experiencing firsthand the effects of severe staffing shortages, just as we’ve been warning for months. Park staff are doing the jobs of many with little support, and it’s pushing our parks to a breaking point. Secretary Burgum must put a stop to these reckless efforts and restore the staffing and stability our parks desperately need.”