National Park Service Restricts Public Disclosure of Visitor Fatalities
In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Department of the Interior has directed National Park Service (NPS) personnel to refrain from publicly confirming deaths or severe injuries within national parks. This directive, issued in December 2025, mandates that NPS staff and associated communications personnel “shall not confirm a death” or disclose details about serious injuries. Instead, they are permitted to state only that an “incident occurred,” its general location, and that responders are on scene. (washingtonpost.com)
The policy aims to standardize communications and protect privacy, according to Interior Department officials. However, this approach marks a departure from the agency’s longstanding practice of promptly releasing information about fatal incidents. Historically, the NPS has issued press releases within 24 to 48 hours of such events, providing details to inform and protect visitors. (washingtonpost.com)
Experts express concern that the new policy could erode public trust and hinder the agency’s ability to communicate effectively about safety risks. Bill Wade, executive director of the National Association of Park Rangers, stated, “This is a significant change in reporting requirements, and we do not know or understand the reason or motivation for the change.” (washingtonpost.com)
The NPS Mortality Dashboard, which tracks fatalities within national parks, reported 198 deaths in 2025, a decrease from previous years. However, the dashboard’s data is validated only up to 2019, with more recent data pending validation. (nps.gov)
In light of these developments, the NPS is reevaluating its communication strategies to balance transparency with privacy considerations, aiming to maintain public trust while ensuring the safety of park visitors.