(NEXSTAR) — A new order issued by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to ensure “the natural and historical resources managed by the Department…accurately reflect American history and not partisan ideology,” invites national park visitors to report aspects of the sites that need repairs and signs or other information that “disparages” Americans.
Burgum’s order stems from an executive order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” signed by President Donald Trump in March. That order called on the Interior Secretary to identify any “public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties” that have been removed or “changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology” since January 1, 2020.
The executive order also calls for those properties to be reinstated, and to ensure that all other sites overseen by the Department of the Interior “do not contain descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times), and instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape.”
In response, Burgum has called for a review of properties that have been changed or altered and their reinstatement. The Interior Department oversees the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other bureaus that oversee the nation’s “vast natural and cultural resources.”
According to a statement shared with Nexstar by the Interior Department, Burgum’s order is only focused on “historical monuments, markers, and memorials altered or removed since 2020.”
“This effort ensures our public lands reflect an accurate portrayal of American history and heritage,” a department spokesperson said. “We remain committed to preserving the integrity of our nation’s historical legacy for future generations. The Department of the Interior has already begun taking first steps towards implementing this Secretary’s Order with more details to come.”
Some federally managed areas were renamed within the last five years. That includes a camping spot in Grand Canyon National Park, a mountain in Yellowstone National Park, and hundreds of other geographic features that were rebranded to remove a derogatory term from federal lands. It’s unclear if those features will revert to their previous names.
Burgum also ordered a review of sites to determine if they have any disparaging content.
As part of this, signage is to be posted at all properties to encourage visitors to report on the “negative” information they find, as well as areas or services within the park that need improvement. Burgum’s order says all signs should include a QR code and the following statement: “(Name of property) belongs to the American people, and (name of land management Bureau) wants your feedback. Please let us know if you have identified (1) any areas of the (park/area, etc. as appropriate) that need repair; (2) any services that need improvement; or (3) any signs or other information that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.”
Burgum’s order, according to National Parks Conservation Association President and CEO Theresa Pierno, “sets a dangerous precedent of prioritizing nostalgia over truth at our parks.”
“Should rangers at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument avoid speaking negatively about slavery? Should rangers at Manzanar National Historic Site avoid talking about the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II?” she said.
Under the 1916 Organic Act and the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act, the National Park Service is required to preserve, protect, and interpret American history, the National Parks Conservation Association noted.
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