Interior Secretary Doug Burgum this week issued Secretarial Order 3431, directing federal land management agencies to implement provisions of former President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The new directive has prompted alarm among historians and conservation advocates, who warn it could hinder the accurate telling of the nation’s complex past.
Under the order, agencies including the National Park Service (NPS) and the Fish and Wildlife Service must install uniform signage at all federally managed sites. These signs request public feedback on areas needing physical repair or service improvements, but notably also ask visitors to report any signage or materials perceived as “negative about either past or living Americans” or that fail to “emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance” of the nation’s landscapes.
Critics say the directive could restrict National Park rangers from discussing uncomfortable but critical aspects of U.S. history, such as slavery, systemic racism, and wartime internment. The move has been described as a step toward sanitizing historical interpretation in favor of a more nostalgic national narrative.
Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, voiced strong opposition, warning of a potential chilling effect on the Park Service’s ability to present truthful accounts of American history.
“The National Park Service is counted among our country’s greatest storytellers, guiding visitors through America’s complex history of triumph and tragedy alike,” Pierno stated. “This new order…asks visitors to report so-called negative information. Should rangers at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument avoid speaking negatively about slavery? Should rangers at Manzanar avoid talking about the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II? This sets a dangerous precedent of prioritizing nostalgia over truth.”
The order outlines a phased review process requiring agencies to identify and remove “images, descriptions, depictions, messages, narratives or other information” deemed to “inappropriately disparage” Americans, whether historical or contemporary. It also mandates a review of all public monuments, memorials, statues, and markers that were altered or removed since January 1, 2020, with the aim of potentially reversing those changes.
The directive appears to challenge the Park Service’s legal mandate to preserve and interpret the full scope of American history. Established under the 1916 Organic Act and reinforced by the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act, the NPS is tasked with protecting the nation’s natural and cultural heritage and ensuring that future generations have access to a complete historical record.
Currently, over two-thirds of the 433 sites managed by the National Park Service are focused on U.S. history and culture. The agency also stewards more than 26,000 historic structures and nearly 185 million artifacts, making it one of the nation’s most significant custodians of collective memory.
As debate continues over the role of public lands in reflecting the nation’s diverse and often difficult history, calls are growing for Secretary Burgum to rescind the order and preserve the integrity of historical interpretation across the country’s treasured national parks.
