Tag

National Parks

All articles tagged with #national parks

Bulldozing at Big Bend Signals Border-Wall Push, Draws Environmental Backlash
climate-politics-and-policy13 days ago

Bulldozing at Big Bend Signals Border-Wall Push, Draws Environmental Backlash

Contractors are bulldozing land in Big Bend National Park to clear routes for future border-patrol roads, vehicle barriers, and cameras as part of a $46.5 billion border-security expansion, sparking environmental concerns that the move could irreversibly reshape the park. The project relies on federal waivers and funding, drawing opposition from environmentalists, local communities, and lawmakers over potential wildlife and habitat damage and questions about government communications.

Trump unveils regilded Arts of War statues as scaffolding is removed near Lincoln Memorial
politics27 days ago

Trump unveils regilded Arts of War statues as scaffolding is removed near Lincoln Memorial

President Trump shared photos showing the regilded Arts of War statues near the Lincoln Memorial after months of scaffolding, as workers complete a National Park Service restoration that addresses aging bronze and copper runoff staining; surrounding areas are partially restricted with sidewalks accessible and no road closures, and there was no immediate White House comment.

Outcry as 15 Amboseli elephants die; Kenya probes suspected poisoning
world27 days ago

Outcry as 15 Amboseli elephants die; Kenya probes suspected poisoning

Fifteen elephants died in Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya over the past month under unexplained circumstances, sparking national outrage and a formal investigation. Kenya Wildlife Service says poisoning is suspected; University of Nairobi preliminary toxin tests detected potential toxins but have not confirmed a cause. The elephants, many of them females with calves, inhabit a park that is central to Kenya's wildlife tourism and conservation.

Court orders broad restoration of national park signage altered under Trump policy
politics2 months ago

Court orders broad restoration of national park signage altered under Trump policy

A federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the Interior Department and National Park Service to restore all signs, displays, and exhibits altered or removed under President Trump’s directive, with full restoration by July 3 ahead of the 250th birthday and an injunction against further changes. The ruling, in a coalition lawsuit by conservation groups, argues parks should present history in full and accurately, citing examples like a Grand Teton marker about the Piegan Blackfeet massacre and climate-change signage at Fort Sumter, and calls the educational role of parks a “cornerstone of public learning.” The Interior Department criticized the decision and said it may appeal.

Court orders restoration of removed history plaques at national parks after Trump-era review
politics2 months ago

Court orders restoration of removed history plaques at national parks after Trump-era review

A Massachusetts district judge ruled that the Trump administration’s removal of history and science materials from national monuments under the 2025 executive order violated policy and set a dangerous precedent, ordering the reinstatement of all signage and exhibits and giving the White House 21 days to comply; plaintiffs include conservation groups such as the NPCA and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks.

Court Orders Restoration of National Park Signs on Slavery, Climate and LGBTQ History
world-and-nation2 months ago

Court Orders Restoration of National Park Signs on Slavery, Climate and LGBTQ History

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate national park signage on topics including slavery, climate change, Indigenous histories and LGBTQ history that were removed under an executive order aimed at purging negative language, with restoration required before the Fourth of July; the ruling emphasizes that parks should tell a full, honest history and follows an earlier injunction in the case.

Judge orders reinstatement of park exhibits on slavery and climate change
politics2 months ago

Judge orders reinstatement of park exhibits on slavery and climate change

A federal judge in Boston ordered the Interior Department to reinstate signs and exhibits about slavery, climate change and other topics removed from national parks, ruling the removals undermine park integrity and amount to censorship; the exhibits must be restored within 21 days ahead of the 250th anniversary. Plaintiffs argued removals violated congressional mandates and lacked rational justification, while the Interior maintained the policy aimed to tell the full, accurate history; the decision follows President Trump’s March 2025 executive order referencing revisionist history.

Park Visitors Push Back Against Trump-Era Plan to Flag 'Negative' History
us-news2 months ago

Park Visitors Push Back Against Trump-Era Plan to Flag 'Negative' History

Visitors to U.S. national parks criticized a Trump-era initiative that urged the public to flag “negative” or controversial historical material in park exhibits, with reports of displays about enslaved people at Independence National Historical Park being altered or removed and sparking lawsuits and debate over how America’s history should be presented.

Federal Suit Targets UFC Fight Planned on White House South Lawn
politics2 months ago

Federal Suit Targets UFC Fight Planned on White House South Lawn

A federal lawsuit filed by the Public Integrity Project seeks to block the UFC fight on the White House South Lawn scheduled for President Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary, arguing the administration unlawfully approved the event, violated National Park Service rules prohibiting sports on federal parklands, lacked congressional consent, and did not conduct an environmental review, characterizing the plan as private commercial use of national monuments.

Lawsuit Seeks to Halt Trump's White House UFC Birthday Spectacle
politics2 months ago

Lawsuit Seeks to Halt Trump's White House UFC Birthday Spectacle

A Virginia military veteran and an organizer filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, UFC, Paramount, and others, arguing that the planned UFC event on the White House South Lawn to celebrate Trump’s 80th birthday would be a private, for-profit use of national monuments and bypass federal permitting, with UFC, Paramount and Trump potentially profiting. The suit names the National Parks Service and Department of the Interior, cites restrictions on private events at the Lincoln Memorial and South Lawn, and seeks to halt the event; White House officials dismissed the suit as baseless would-be obstruction.

Administration expands hunting access on national parks and federal lands
politics3 months ago

Administration expands hunting access on national parks and federal lands

President Trump's Interior Department has issued an order directing agencies to remove what it calls unnecessary barriers to hunting and fishing on 55 sites in the lower 48, expanding where hunters may operate within national parks, refuges and wilderness areas. Supporters say the move broadens public access, supports rural economies and conservation, while critics warn of safety risks and wildlife impacts and note the changes came with limited public discussion; some sites have already relaxed rules, including proposals to lift restrictions on tree stands and hunting along trails.