National Parks Ordered to Remove DEI-Related Merchandise as Interior Dept. Pushes ‘Neutral’ Visitor Spaces

WASHINGTON — National parks across the United States have been instructed to review and remove retail items tied to diversity, equity, or inclusion programs, the latest step in a sweeping federal directive reshaping how the government approaches historical interpretation and cultural issues.

A memo, first reported by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), gives parks until December 19 to inspect all merchandise sold in gift shops operated by concessionaires and partner associations. Items ranging from books and educational guides to keychains and apparel could be affected if deemed inconsistent with Secretary’s Order 3416, which restricts “equity-related mandates, preferences, and activities.”

The Interior Department confirmed the order, emphasizing that its goal is to maintain “neutral spaces that serve all visitors.”

Interior Dept. Says Parks Must Stay Neutral, Not Political

In a statement to USA TODAY, the department said the review ensures that parks do not appear to endorse any particular ideology.

“We’re working closely with our partners to make sure this process is smooth and doesn’t disrupt the visitor experience. If any items are found to be inconsistent with the Order, they are being removed from sale,” officials said.

The decision follows a year of executive actions by President Donald Trump targeting DEI programs across federal agencies. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum later expanded those directives, including new requirements for reviewing public monuments, markers, and interpretive materials that could be seen as “disparaging” to American history.

Earlier this year, Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio displayed signs encouraging visitors to report exhibits or messages that cast the United States in a negative light — a move that drew both support and criticism.

Critics Say the Policy Amounts to ‘Erasing History’

Advocates and historians warn that the latest directive risks stripping national parks of their role as storytellers of America’s complex past.

Alan Spears, senior director for Cultural Resources at the NPCA, called the gift shop review part of an ongoing effort to “sanitize, soften or erase history.”

“If we’ve got books or interpretive materials, signage or even keychains that point that out, that’s a part of our shared national narrative, and I think those things need to remain in place,” Spears said.

He added that the focus on retail items distracts from deeper problems the National Park Service (NPS) faces — chronic staffing shortages, ballooning maintenance backlogs, and limited funding for critical infrastructure.

“Our National Park Service Rangers should be managing parks, not censorship campaigns,” Spears said.

What Is Secretary’s Order 3416?

Issued in January, the directive calls for an end to all DEI-related programs within the Interior Department. It mandates:

• Removal of equity-centered training
• Elimination of DEI hiring preferences
• Banning materials promoting “illegal or immoral discrimination” programs
• A review of signage, educational content, and retail offerings

This marks one of the most sweeping federal actions against DEI practices in recent years, affecting everything from staffing to museum exhibits.

Trump’s Broader Push: Protecting Monuments and Positive Narratives

The review is aligned with Trump’s March order requiring federal lands to ensure monuments and signage do not “disparage Americans past or living — including colonial era figures.”

Interior Secretary Burgum followed up in May with new oversight rules. Parks have since begun quietly modifying or removing plaques, museum descriptions, and historical guides that highlight:

• Racism in federal land policies
• Indigenous displacement
• Slavery-linked sites
• Colonial-era violence

Supporters of the policy argue that national parks should not host material they believe presents an “anti-American” narrative.

Opponents say the new rules hinder honest historical interpretation and public education.

Gift Shops Now on the Front Line of a National Culture Debate

While interpretive exhibits have long been flashpoints for political tensions, this is the first time in recent memory that gift shops have been placed under federal scrutiny.

Items that may be flagged include:

• Books on civil rights
• Material on Indigenous displacement
• DEI educational guides
• Merchandise celebrating Latino, Black, or LGBTQ+ history
• Items branded with DEI slogans

Parks that rely on nonprofit associations and concessionaires for retail revenue worry about the financial impact — especially during the holiday tourism season.

Why This Matters for Park Visitors and Staff

National parks often serve as educational spaces where Americans learn about past injustices, scientific discoveries, and cultural contributions. Critics fear limiting merchandise sends a signal that certain histories are no longer welcome.

Supporters counter that visitors come for recreation, not political messaging.

Meanwhile, park employees are caught in the middle. Some rangers privately told advocacy groups that they are unsure how to implement the review without inadvertently removing legitimate historical items.

What Happens Next?

Parks must complete their review by December 19, though some have already begun pulling items preemptively.

The Interior Department has not yet released a public list of banned items or specific criteria, leaving many parks to interpret the policy on their own. The review of interpretive materials — signage, plaques, exhibits — is expected to continue into 2026.

With national parks increasingly positioned at the intersection of politics and public memory, the latest directive signals that the fight over how America tells its own story is far from over.