The National Parks Were Reportedly Told to Stay Silent on Deaths

The scoop

Why would the government tell national parks to hide death reports from the public? An internal Department of Interior memo allegedly prohibits National Park Service staff from confirming deaths or injury severity across 435 sites nationwide, citing consistency in incident communications. Experts warn the secrecy could erode public trust and eliminate safety warnings that help prevent future fatalities, though DOI claims the guidance simply ensures families are notified first and investigations proceed properly.