Judge Blocks National Parks From Removing ‘Negative’ Signs A federal judge has temporarily halted the National Park Service’s efforts to remove or revise signs, films, and other materials at national parks nationwide, citing censorship concerns tied to a directive from President Trump. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley in Massachusetts, prevents the Park Service from enforcing an executive order that mandated the removal or alteration of content deemed to “inappropriately disparage Americans” or portray the United States in a “negative light.” The decision provides a temporary reprieve for plaintiffs, a coalition of advocacy groups that filed a lawsuit in February challenging the executive order. The executive order, issued by the Trump administration, instructed the Park Service to remove or cover up materials at national parks that were perceived as critical of the U.S. or its citizens. As part of this directive, the Park Service has already taken down several exhibits and signs, including a plaque about slavery at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, a climate change sign at Fort Sumter in South Carolina, and a display about Indigenous people at Acadia National Park in Maine. These changes sparked legal action, with the plaintiffs arguing that the order violated free speech principles and distorted historical narratives. Judge Kelley’s order requires the Park Service to restore any exhibits or materials it had dismantled or altered within three weeks. The ruling also pauses enforcement of the executive order until the ongoing litigation concludes. The judge emphasized that the temporary block was intended to protect the plaintiffs’ ability to challenge the policy while the case proceeds.#president_trump #national_park_service #judge_angel_kelley #independence_national_historical_park #acadia_national_park
