Updated June 16, 2026 12:30PM
There’s a new wrinkle in the Trump Administration’s efforts to remove historical signs and placards at National Park Service (NPS) sites deemed to “disparage Americans past or living.”
On June 12, a U.S. District Judge ruled that the federal government must cease removing these signs and restore those previously removed by July 4. The decision marked a major victory for advocates who had argued that the practice was akin to erasing American history.
But, like many legal battles involving the federal government, this one is far from over. Outside spoke to experts to better understand what the future holds for the fight to preserve NPS history.
A Legal Ruling in Favor of NPS Signs
On June 12, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Massachusetts ordered the federal government to restore signs by July 4. The Department of the Interior (DOI) told Outside that the agency is “looking at our appeal options,” according to a spokesperson. On June 16, the government filed a notice of appeal of the preliminary injunction with the federal First Circuit Court in Boston and a motion to pause Kelley’s decision.
Bill Wade, executive director of one of the suing parties, the Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR), told Outside that the plaintiffs in the case—a group of nonprofits focused on conservation and the preservation of history—will likely file opposition as soon as possible. The government intends to go to court on June 18.
As the two litigating parties remain at odds, what happens next at America’s national parks rests in the hands of the court.
“Every day park visitors—young, old, and from all backgrounds—look to the national park system to learn and enhance their understanding of history, science, and this nation,” Kelley, who was appointed by President Biden in 2021, wrote in the 63-page ruling. “Defendants’ continued censorship of interpretive materials disfavored by this administration diminishes the public’s collective ability to engage critically and thoughtfully with these topics.”
A Quick Timeline of the Move to Erase History
Trump mandated the removal of signs in a March 2025 executive order, which required the DOI to take down exhibits in national parks and other public lands that the agency deemed inappropriate. These signs included topics such as history, slavery, climate change, LGBTQ+ issues, and others. Within months, park visitors reported seeing notices to flag signs “that are negative about either past or living Americans.” Park staff started removing NPS signage by September 2025.
In February 2026, a coalition of nonprofit groups—the National Parks Conservation Association, American Association for State and Local History, ANPR, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Society for Experiential Graphic Design, and Union of Concerned Scientists—filed a lawsuit.
The following month, a group of senators sent a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, Douglas Burgum, demanding answers about the removal of the signs.
Outside has repeatedly asked the DOI for a catalog of the removed signs and an explanation as to what happened to them. Our requests have gone unanswered.
Is the June 12 Court Decision Legally Binding?
Although the June 12 decision is legally binding, the government’s choice to appeal the judge’s decision means it could be challenged in a higher-level court before the July 4 deadline.
When Will NPS Reinstall the Signs?
The judge’s order requires that the administration replace the signs within three weeks. Wade believes NPS staff could replace most signs within that timeframe, though some exhibits may take longer due to budget cuts or existing staff reductions.
If the DOI challenges the court ruling, however, the timeframe could take longer.
Kelley set a strict deadline of July 4, tying sign restorations to the nation’s 250th anniversary. But replacing exhibits may not be as simple as flipping a switch—park staff needs to physically dig out, reprint, or reinstall removed displays—and that’s assuming the signs were preserved to begin with.
“NPS is under a court order to restore the signs, and appealing doesn’t change that,” Dave Owens, a professor of law at the University of California, San Francisco, told Outside. This could change if the court decides to put Kelley’s decision on hold. “But I don’t think the First Circuit judges are likely to think either of those things here, just because the Park Service’s actions were so egregious.”
Outside contacted the DOI for further information on whether the signs were stored or destroyed, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Reduced staffing and budget cuts at some parks could also affect how quickly items are reinstalled, Wade said.
Does This Most Recent Decision Mean That the NPS Must Stop Removing Signs and Placards?
Technically, yes. Kelley’s decision legally bars the federal government from removing, covering up, or revising signs at NPS sites nationwide. Removing signs to comply with the 2025 executive order is “clearly forbidden,” Owens said.
But just because the NPS is legally obligated to put the signs back up doesn’t mean the agency will do so.
“I suspect that how quickly the signs are restored—and if they are restored—will depend on the outcome of lots of contests between NPS staff who hope to get away with doing the right thing and political appointees who would prefer to ignore court orders and to keep inflaming controversy,” Owens said.
What Happens Next?
The government’s appeal now goes to a federal court in Boston, but Owens speculates that a decision could take months, and perhaps over a year.
“The court will need to set a briefing schedule, receive briefs, hold oral argument, and write a decision, and there’s no set deadline for any of that,” he said.
What to Expect at National Parks This Summer
NPS staff removed signs from at least 25 sites in almost as many states. More than 30 signs were reportedly flagged for removal at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia, for example, while Montana’s Glacier National Park saw removals of interpretive materials noting how climate change is affecting the park and driving the disappearance of its namesake glaciers.
“This summer, millions of visitors will flock to America’s national parks to take in breathtaking park landscapes and walk in the footsteps of our fascinating history, 250 years after our nation was founded,” Alan Spears, National Parks Conservation Association senior director for cultural resources, said in a statement. “[The] court ruling will help protect national parks from the administration’s unprecedented campaign to erase history and science at these one-of-a-kind places.
For a state-by-state guide of known signs that have been removed or flagged for removal, read here. Plus, this interactive map archives exhibits that have been removed across the country.
