Veterans' Outdoor Access Report Gutted of Diversity Language Under Trump Admin Review

The Trump administration has sparked significant backlash from advocates and insiders by editing an upcoming federal report on veterans' access to outdoor recreation, eliminating language that emphasized support for marginalized communities. The revisions, part of a broader effort to address diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), removed references to women, people of color, LGBTQ+ veterans, and individuals with disabilities—despite these groups historically encountering more significant obstacles to accessing outdoor spaces.

The report, produced by the Interagency Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans, initially featured data-driven recommendations including targeted outreach to underrepresented communities and proposals for infrastructure enhancements such as gender-neutral restrooms. The revised version simplified the recommendations to broad advice intended for “all veterans,” eliminating the detailed focus that advocates argue is essential for tackling inequities.

Lindsay Church, the executive director of Minority Veterans of America and a former member of the task force, has resigned in protest. Not everyone receives tailored outreach. "You do it for communities that encounter distinct challenges," Church stated, describing the edits as a deliberate removal of at-risk veteran groups.

Even seemingly minor changes, such as modifying a job title to eliminate the term “inclusion” or softening mentions of systemic gaps in park access, indicate a broader trend. A section that initially recognized the “adventure gap” impacting women and people of color now vaguely mentions “certain groups” without specifying them.

The Church and others caution that the edited version of the report will result in reduced resources and lasting damage to the very communities the task force was established to support. “If you eliminate these equity-related strategies,” Church stated, “you wipe out 10 to 20 years of investment in the communities that require them the most.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs chose not to confirm the final content of the report. Still, it stood by the administration’s direction, asserting that it signifies a return to the VA’s “core mission.”

Critics contend that the term “refocusing” the mission has become a euphemism for dismantling essential support systems that numerous veterans depend on, all while masquerading as a neutral stance.

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