Judge Orders National Park Service to Restore Removed Displays, Freezes More Changes During 2026 Suit
Updated
Updated · WyoFile · Jun 18
Judge Orders National Park Service to Restore Removed Displays, Freezes More Changes During 2026 Suit
3 articles · Updated · WyoFile · Jun 18
Summary
A federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the National Park Service to restore and reinstall any interpretive materials removed since May 20, 2025, and barred further removals while the case proceeds.
Judge Angel Kelley said the challengers were likely to win, finding the Interior Department acted arbitrarily under Trump’s history order and that continued removals would cause irreparable harm.
The ruling drew on 35,000 public comments released through separate litigation, including 526 from Yellowstone and Grand Teton, where visitors overwhelmingly backed existing exhibits rather than alleging anti-American bias.
The dispute began after Trump’s March 2025 executive order and Doug Burgum’s May 2025 directive pushed parks to solicit QR-code complaints and review displays; Grand Teton removed at least one sign, while Yellowstone removed none.
Interior must report its compliance steps to the court and file weekly updates, though the department said it is weighing an appeal.