Federal Judge Orders Reinstallation of Removed Signs at National Parks

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstall exhibits and signs related to slavery and climate change that were removed from national parks and monuments. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley issued a preliminary injunction on June 12, 2026, stating that the removals did not align with the preferred narrative of the administration. The order came in response to arguments from groups representing park conservationists, historians, and scientists, who claimed that the U.S. Department of the Interior was engaged in a campaign to erase history and undermine science. Kelley emphasized that removing these signs undermines the integrity of the National Parks and sets a dangerous precedent for censorship. The judge ordered the government to restore the signs within 21 days, ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The plaintiffs, including the National Parks Conservation Association and the American Association for State and Local History, argued that the removals violated congressional mandates regarding the operation of national park sites. An Interior Department spokesperson previously stated that the policy aimed to ensure parks tell the full and accurate story of American history.