National Parks Ordered to Remove “Divisive” Items from Gift Shops by December

The Trump administration has expanded its campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by ordering national parks to remove retail items deemed objectionable from gift shops, bookstores, and concession stands by December 19.

In a memo issued last month, the Interior Department stated that the goal is to create “neutral spaces that serve all visitors,” as part of a broader effort to eliminate policies and programs the administration claims discriminate based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

“Our goal is to keep National Parks focused on their core mission: preserving natural and cultural resources for the benefit of all Americans,” the Interior Department said in a statement. Officials emphasized their desire to ensure park gift shops “do not promote specific viewpoints.”

Conservation groups have criticized the directive, characterizing it as censorship that undermines the National Park Service’s educational mission. Alan Spears, senior director for cultural resources at the National Parks Conservation Association, described the removal of history books and other merchandise as “silencing science and hiding history,” arguing it doesn’t serve visitors’ interests.

Other advocacy organizations pointed out that the review seems poorly timed, given the park service’s current struggles with staffing shortages, maintenance backlogs, and budget constraints.

However, conservative groups have welcomed the change. Stefan Padfield, executive director of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research and a former law professor, argued that government promotion of what he termed “radical and divisive” ideologies through merchandise sales is indefensible. He acknowledged that implementing the policy would involve difficult decisions about what is acceptable.

“Now, are there going to be instances of the correction overshooting? Are there going to be difficult line-drawing exercises in gray areas? Absolutely,” Padfield said.

Park employees and organizations managing gift shops have expressed confusion about which specific items might be targeted for removal. Many declined to speak on the record, fearing potential repercussions. The Interior Department’s memo provided no examples of objectionable merchandise, leaving considerable room for interpretation. No training has been provided to park service employees on implementing the new standards.

Some parks have already completed their reviews without identifying any items requiring removal. Current merchandise available at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia includes items featuring Frederick Douglass, while the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park store in Atlanta continues to sell books about the Civil Rights Movement and a children’s book highlighting important Black women in U.S. history. The Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument still offers commemorative tokens online.

Park service merchandise traditionally undergoes a thorough vetting process to ensure educational value and alignment with each location’s historical or natural themes before being approved for sale.

This directive comes amid other controversial changes to National Park Service policies. Recently, the agency faced criticism for discontinuing free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, while extending this benefit to U.S. residents on Flag Day—which coincides with President Trump’s birthday next year.

Earlier this year, the Interior Department ordered parks to identify signs, exhibits, and materials it deemed disparaging to Americans, sparking debate about Native American history books and historic photographs showing the scars of formerly enslaved people.

Through executive orders, Trump has stated that American history is being unfairly portrayed through a negative lens, and has emphasized focusing instead on positive achievements and the nation’s natural beauty.

The policy has already affected some merchandise vendors. Mikah Meyer, who spent three years visiting all 419 national park sites and documented his journey to demonstrate that parks welcome LGBTQ+ visitors, has seen his Outside Safe Space products—featuring rainbow-colored tree logos—removed from several park stores following earlier executive orders.

“How is banning these items supporting freedom of speech?” Meyer asked.

As the December 19 deadline approaches, park officials and vendors continue navigating the uncertain guidelines while trying to balance multiple perspectives on what constitutes appropriate merchandise for America’s public lands.