ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW February 18, 2026 U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Subject: White House Modernization Project(s) The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents nearly 5,000 members with more than 45,000 years of national park management experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s
Coalition Files Lawsuit to Challenge Censorship, Erasure of American History and Science at National Parks
Groups Unite to Protect “America’s Largest Classroom” From Unlawful Removal of History and Science from Park Displays BOSTON – A coalition of organizations committed to protecting America’s national parks, preserving and sharing history, promoting scientific literacy and access, and providing high-quality interpretive materials united today to challenge a new U.S. Department of the Interior policy that
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks Yesterday, President Donald Trump nominated Mr. Scott Socha, a hotel and food management executive, as the next director of the National Park Service. In response, Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement: “Over the last year, the National Park
Urge BLM to Defer August 2026 Oil & Gas Leasing Near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Maah Daah Hey Trail
On February 12, 2026, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Badlands Conservation Alliance filed scoping comments urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to defer key oil and gas lease parcels proposed for the Montana–Dakotas Q3 (August) 2026 lease sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA). The groups recommend that BLM designate
One Year After the Valentine’s Day Firings, America’s National Parks Remain in Crisis
MEMO To: Interested Parties Fr: Emily Thompson, Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Re: One year after the Valentine’s Day firings, what we’re seeing at National Parks Dt: February 2026 __________________________________________________________ One year after the Valentine’s Day firings that gutted the National Park Service, our national parks remain on a perilous path and in a
Oppose S. 446: Don’t Strip Big Cypress National Preserve of Its Chance for Wilderness Protection
Oppose S. 446 – A bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness February 3, 2026 Dear Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: On behalf of the undersigned organizations and our millions of members and supporters, we urge you to oppose S.
Protect California’s Coast—No New Offshore Drilling
The Environmental Defense Center (EDC), joined by dozens of environmental, community, and conservation organizations, submitted formal comments opposing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program. The letter explains that the proposed program is premature, legally flawed, and environmentally reckless—particularly its inclusion of offshore California.
More history exhibits pulled from national parks, including Grand Canyon
A new wave of takedown orders from Trump officials targets signs about climate and Native Americans at several national parks, including Big Bend and Glacier. January 27, 2026 By Jake Spring The Washington Post Trump officials have ordered national parks to remove dozens of signs and displays related to climate change, environmental protection and settlers’
144 Organizations Urge Interior Department to Reject Massive Offshore Drilling Expansion
January 23, 2025 Ms. Kelly Hammerle Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (VAM–LD) U.S. Department of Interior 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166-9216 RE: Opposition to New Lease Sales in the Draft Proposed National OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Program from 144 Non-profit organizations (Docket No. BOEM-2025-0483) Dear Secretary Burgum, On behalf of our millions of
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: “Erasing History Doesn’t Make It Go Away, It Just Makes It More Likely To Repeat Itself”
For Immediate Release: Friday, January 23, 2026 Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: “Erasing History Doesn’t Make It Go Away, It Just Makes It More Likely To Repeat Itself” Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement on the Administration’s ongoing effort
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: Senate Must Reject House Bill That Would Open Up One Of America’s Most Treasured Landscapes Open To Mining
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: Senate Must Reject House Bill That Would Open Up One Of America’s Most Treasured Landscapes Open To Mining Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement on House passage
International visitors now have to pay more at America’s most visited national parks
JAN 16, 2026 International visitors now have to pay more at America’s most visited national parks Advocates for the policy say the additional revenue could help the parks, while other park supporters worry the price increase will have knock-on effects. Click here to read the full article.
154 Organizations Urge Senate to Reject Stevan Pearce Nomination to Lead the Bureau of Land Management Over Public Lands Concerns
January 20, 2026 The Honorable Mike Lee Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Martin Heinrich Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Oppose the Nomination of Stevan Pearce
Preservation Groups Urge Caution on Proposed Rifle Range Near Appomattox Courthouse Battlefield
Appomattox County Board of Supervisors 333 Court St. Appomattox, VA 24522 Chair Hinkle, Vice-Chair Jones, and members of the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors, We, the below undersigned organizations, write to you today regarding CUP250870, Rifleman’s Resort. We are a collection of national park and battlefield preservation non-profits dedicated to protecting and preserving our
BLM’s Direct Final Rule Sidesteps the Law to Delay Critical Oil and Gas Bonding Protections
January 20, 2026 SUBMITTED VIA REGULATIONS.GOV (BLM-2025-0269) U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630) Bureau of Land Management 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646 Washington, D.C. 20240, Attention: 1004-AF43 Re: Comments on Direct Final Rule – Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Statewide Bonds; Extension of Phase-in Deadline To Whom It May
Oil & Gas Leasing Threatens Old Spanish National Historic Trail in Utah
A coalition of conservation and public lands organizations is urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw portions of its proposed Utah 2026 Second Quarter oil and gas lease sale, warning that dozens of lease parcels would harm the Old Spanish National Historic Trail (OSNHT)—a congressionally designated national historic trail protected under federal law.
Conservation Groups Urge BLM to Halt Utah Oil & Gas Lease Sale
NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARK ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY A coalition of conservation organizations is calling on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to stop the Utah 2026 Quarter 2 oil and gas lease sale, warning it would open more than 54,000 acres across
National Park Service Veterans Urge Colorado to Move Forward on Historic Wolverine Reintroduction
1/9/2026 Dear Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commissioners, I am writing on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), which represents over 4,700 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service. Collectively, our membership represents over 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. Our members include former
Conservation Groups File Amicus Brief to Stop Massive Data Center Planned on Manassas Battlefield
LEADING CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS PUNCH BACK AGAINST WORLD’S LARGEST DATA CENTER COMPLEX, FILE AMICUS BRIEF Groups say the Prince William Digital Gateway threatens irreparable harm to historic, natural and cultural resources (Manassas, Virginia) — Today, six leading national and regional conservation organizations, collectively representing more than one million members and supporters, spoke out for America’s battlefields
NPT: 5th Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks | A Rundown National Park Service
5th Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks A Rundown National Park Service The long-held notion that working in the National Park Service was a promising, even noble, career has been shaken to its core in less than one year. That promise under the Trump administration has been thrown into question, raising uncertainty over the durability of
National Park Leaders Urge EPA to Reject Rollbacks to Clean Water Act Protections
December 29, 2025 Comment re: Updated Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’ Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025- 0322 We are writing on behalf of more than 4,700 members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), who collectively represent more than 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. The Coalition studies, educates,
Environmental Groups Urge FAA and NPS to Halt Bay Area Air Tour Agreement, Citing Court Order Violations and Threats to National Parks
COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS MARIN AUDUBON SOCIETY, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, WATERSHED ALLIANCE OF MARIN December 30, 2025 Sandra Fox, Environmental Protection Specialist Federal Aviation Administration Submitted to: NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment System, https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=147892 PUBLIC COMMENT – Notice of Availability of Proposed Voluntary Agreement Dear Ms. Fox, The Coalition to
88 Conservation Groups Warn ESA Rollbacks Would Weaken Protections and Push Birds Closer to Extinction
US Fish and Wildlife Service 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries 1315 East-West Highway, 14th Floor Silver Spring, MD 20910 19 December 2025 Subject: Conservation Groups Oppose Rules which would Weaken Endangered Species Act Attn: Docket Nos. FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0029, FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0039, FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0044, FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0048 On behalf of
SELC Urges Withdrawal of Harmful ESA Rollbacks That Threaten Southern Biodiversity
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of a coalition of 45 conservation organizations across the Southeast, submits detailed comments opposing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s and National Marine Fisheries Service’s November 2025 proposed rollbacks to Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations, arguing that they would revive discredited 2019 Trump-era rules, undermine decades of
Coalition Urges BLM to Defer April 2026 Oil & Gas Lease Parcels Near Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s Wilderness
December 19, 2026 Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas State Office Branch of Fluid Minerals Attention: Hattie Payne 5001 Southgate Drive Billings, MT 59101 Subject: Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the BLM Montana-Dakotas 2026 Second Quarter (April) Oil and Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2025-0010-EA) To whom it may concern: I