The National Parks Were Reportedly Told to Stay Silent on Deaths. Experts Say It Could Make Trails Deadlier.

June 29, 2026

A newly revealed internal memo allegedly bans National Park Service (NPS) staff from publicly reporting the deaths or severity of injuries at America’s national parks, according to a new report. Experts say this shift in transparency not only sets a dangerous precedent for park management but could also put visitors at risk.

According to a report recently published by The Washington Post, the Department of the Interior (DOI), which oversees NPS, distributed a memo to employees in December. Park staff and those who speak to the media were reportedly prohibited from notifying the public about deaths and certain injuries across 435 NPS sites nationwide.

In an email to Outside, a spokesperson for the DOI said the “narrative being presented is false and reflects a significant mischaracterization of the Department’s guidance.”

“Interior remains committed to providing timely and accurate information while ensuring families are notified first. The guidance was developed to create a more consistent approach to incident communications across the Department and is not intended to conceal fatalities or delay information,” the spokesperson wrote. Outside