National Park staff ordered not to reveal deaths as part of new policy, report says

[Dulcinea]

(LA Times) The Trump administration is reportedly ordering staff not to confirm deaths or details about severe injuries at U.S. national parks — but officials are adamant the policy is not meant to conceal information from the public.

In a statement to The Times, an Interior Department spokesperson said the "narrative" that the agency is trying to obscure information "is false and reflects a significant mischaracterization of the Department's guidance."

An internal memo, circulated in December 2025 and first reported by the Washington Post this week, states that Department of the Interior employees, including National Park Service staff, are not permitted to confirm deaths that take place in federal park facilities. Only "appropriate authorities" can confirm a fatality after coordinating with the communications office and notifying the decedent's next of kin, the Post reported, citing the memo.

The memo did not specify what agency would be tasked with confirming deaths, according to the Post.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/national-park-staff-ordered-not-221408413.html

[jls4561]

1. So if Fat Donnie were to trip while inspecting the Reflecting Pool, fall in, choke on the algae and expire...

The Park Service people would just quietly scoop him out and dispose of him with the dead ducks.

And we’d never know.

Quick! Someone alert Orrex!

[mopinko]

2. went to yosemite yrs ago. they sold a book

about deaths in the park over the yrs in the gift shop. i guess they’ll have to burn those.
it was pretty interesting, tho slim.