### National Park Service Reinstates Harriet Tubman Content Amid Controversy Over DEI Policies In early 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) faced significant backlash after removing references to Harriet Tubman from its webpage dedicated to the Underground Railroad. The edits, made in February, included the removal of Tubman's photo and a quote attributed to her, which sparked outrage among historians, civil rights advocates, and the general public. This incident occurred against the backdrop of broader governmental efforts to align with President Trump's campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, leading to concerns about the erasure of important historical figures and narratives from federal websites [https://abc11.com/post/national-park-service-restores-harriet-tubman-feature-webpage-criticism-removal/16148877, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/us/politics/national-park-service-harriet-tubman-underground-railroad-dei.html]. ### Overview of the Situation and Response 1. **Initial Removal**: In February 2025, the NPS made unauthorized edits to its Underground Railroad webpage, which included the removal of Tubman's image and quote, leading to public outcry [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/07/national-park-website-harriet-tubman-underground-railroad/82971945007]. 2. **Public Backlash**: Following the edits, historians and civil rights advocates criticized the NPS for diminishing Tubman's role in American history, prompting widespread media coverage and public discourse [https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/national-park-service-restores-harriet-tubman-backlash-1235313329]. 3. **Restoration of Content**: On April 7, 2025, the NPS announced the restoration of Tubman's photo and quote to the webpage, acknowledging that the previous edits had not been authorized by its leadership [https://sg.news.yahoo.com/harriet-tubman-photo-restored-national-124727507.html]. 4. **Context of DEI Policy Changes**: The incident is part of a larger trend where various government websites have been altered or scrubbed of references to DEI, reflecting the administration's stance against such initiatives [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/08/nation/trump-dei-harriet-tubman-park-service-webpage]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Timeline of Events**: - **February 2025**: Unauthorized edits made to the NPS webpage, removing Tubman's references. - **April 7, 2025**: NPS restores Tubman's content following public backlash. - **Public Reaction**: The removal and subsequent restoration of Tubman's content led to significant media coverage, highlighting the importance of her legacy in American history and the implications of DEI policy changes on historical narratives [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/apr/8/national-park-service-restoring-original-harriet-tubman-underground]. ### Conclusion: Implications of the Restoration The restoration of Harriet Tubman's content on the NPS webpage underscores the ongoing tension between historical representation and contemporary political agendas. 1. **Historical Significance**: Tubman's legacy as an abolitionist and leader of the Underground Railroad is crucial to understanding American history, and her removal from federal narratives raises concerns about historical erasure. 2. **Public Advocacy**: The swift public response to the edits demonstrates the power of advocacy in preserving historical narratives and the importance of maintaining diverse perspectives in government communications. 3. **Future Considerations**: This incident may prompt further scrutiny of how government agencies handle historical content, particularly in the context of evolving DEI policies and public expectations for representation [https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/national-park-service-harriet-tubman-underground-railroad-rcna200184].