Advocacy: National Park Service – Association of African American Museums

Trust Americans to Learn from the Past and Save the Future

Latest update: On August 7th, AAAM issued a joint statement, “Trust Americans to Learn from the Past” with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), the Organization of American Historians (OAH), the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), and the National Council on Public History (NCPH).

A deeply troubling directive has come from the White House requiring the National Park Service (NPS) to remove historical content deemed “negative about either past or living Americans.”

This effort is not harmless editing—it is erasure. Removing the stories of African Americans, Native Americans, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and others from our shared history distorts the truth and undermines the very foundation of public history. Framing this censorship as “honest, respectful storytelling” is deceptive and contrary to the rigorous professional standards that guide our work.

Immediate Actions:

Visit NPS sites and leave comments through the NPS Feedback Form in support of inclusive, truthful storytelling.
Contact your local, state, and national representatives to express your support for the NPS and the preservation of all histories.
Share your grant or cooperative agreement termination and reinstatement via this survey.
Use your platforms, institutions, and networks to amplify the urgency of this issue.

Thank you for your continued advocacy and unwavering commitment to preserving African American history and heritage. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, it is more urgent than ever to protect the federal programs and public spaces that tell the full story of our shared past.

Right now, several essential agencies and funding streams—including the National Park Service (NPS), Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—are under serious threat. The proposed FY 2026 federal budget would eliminate nearly all HPF funding except limited support for HBCUs, while FY 2025 funds—already approved by Congress—have still not been released.

In addition, a new directive, Secretarial Order 3431 (SO 3431) requires national parks to post QR codes by June 13 soliciting public comment on whether exhibits, plaques, ranger programs, and more “negatively” portray the U.S.

This effort appears to be part of a larger campaign to erase complex truths and sanitize the past. We know that telling full, nuanced, and sometimes difficult stories—especially those that include African American history and experiences—is essential to the work of public history, education, and justice.

We stand beside the National Parks Service and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) as AAAM, and our other partners fight back against these alarming efforts to erase history and defund the institutions that protect it.

We must speak up to protect the truth. Our collective history, including the triumphs and the tragedies, deserves to be preserved and shared with integrity.

How You Can Help

1. Scan and Submit Feedback via the QR Codes

If you’re visiting a park or know someone who is, please encourage them to scan the QR code and leave a supportive comment for comprehensive, truthful interpretation.

2. Contact Your Congressional Representatives Today

Ask them to:

Release FY25 HPF funds immediately
Fully fund the HPF, NEH, IMLS, NPS, and NEA in FY26
Support H.R. 3555 and H.R. 3559, which ensure that the National Park Service and Forest Service are fully staffed

Sample Script:

“Federal cultural agencies play a critical role in preserving our nation’s history, supporting education, and fueling local economies. Programs like IMLS, which comprises just .00046% of the federal budget, generate more than $50 billion in economic impact and support over 726,000 jobs. The NEH costs less than 50 cents per person, yet delivers incredible value for civic life, democracy, and public education. I urge you to fully fund these agencies and release the FY25 HPF funds to keep vital preservation efforts on track.”

Find your elected officials here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

3. Write to the Secretary of the Interior – Let them know we support inclusive, educational interpretation in our parks—not censorship.

Let us stand firm in our commitment to public education, cultural preservation, and historical truth.

Read more on how this issue affects our communities: