Donald Trump’s Image Featured on New National Parks Passes Amid Controversy over Public Land
Donald Trump; National Park Annual Pass.
Credit:
Pete Marovich/Getty; U.S. Department of the Interior
NEED TO KNOW
- President Donald Trump is set to appear on new annual passes for the National Park Service, alongside a portrait of George Washington.
- The Department of the Interior shared an update on national park access last week, introducing an "America-first" pricing structure aimed at raising fees for non-residents while limiting access on select holidays.
- Trump’s administration has faced criticism regarding national parks, notably for the layoffs of hundreds of park rangers and attempts to reduce environmental protections on public lands.
In a notable shift, President Donald Trump will feature on new annual passes for U.S. national parks, an announcement that has generated both support and criticism.
The Department of the Interior revealed updates last week, which include new artwork, digital passes, and a revised fee structure that they say prioritizes American families. In celebration of the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary, the "America the Beautiful" resident pass will showcase portraits of Trump and George Washington.
Additionally, Trump will also be depicted on the military members’ pass, portrayed saluting with his back turned—a move that raises questions about adherence to 36 U.S. Code § 301, which indicates that only individuals in uniform, service members, or veterans are authorized to salute the flag.
New National Parks Annual Passes feature portraits of George Washington and Donald Trump.
U.S. Department of the Interior
Effective January 1, 2026, the updated pricing will see annual passes priced at $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for non-residents. Non-residents without an annual pass will incur an additional $100 entry fee for access to 11 of the most frequented national parks, on top of existing entrance costs.
The parks affected include:
- Acadia National Park in Maine
- Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah
- Everglades National Park in Florida
- Glacier National Park in Montana
- Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona
- Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming
- Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California
- Yellowstone National Park across Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
- Yosemite National Park in California
“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” stated Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a press release detailing the changes. “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”
Moreover, the department announced eight fee-free holidays for the upcoming year, during which national parks will only admit U.S. residents:
- President’s Day (February 16, 2026)
- Memorial Day (May 25, 2026)
- Flag Day and Donald Trump’s birthday (June 14, 2026)
- Independence Day weekend (July 3–5, 2026)
- 110th Birthday of the National Park Service (August 25, 2026)
- Constitution Day (September 17, 2026)
- Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday (October 27, 2026)
- Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2026)
These changes emerge amidst a tumultuous period for U.S. national parks and public lands. Shortly after taking office for his second term in January, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, eliminated around 1,000 National Park Service positions to manage government expenditures.
In April, Trump signed an executive order to increase U.S. timber production, subsequently opening over 50% of previously protected national forests for potential logging. This move followed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ removal of key environmental protections affecting 113 million acres of National Forest System land, positioning them for logging under the guise of public safety.
Calls for Senate Republicans to remove sections from Trump’s "Big Beautiful Bill," which proposed selling off millions of acres of public land, were met with resistance. Nonetheless, the administration has advanced plans to log, drill, and mine these lands.
In a September report, the Center for American Progress estimated that nearly 88 million acres of land are targeted for reduced environmental protections to facilitate commercial activities.
Earlier this year, Tucker Johnson from the National Parks Conservation Association expressed concern, noting that Trump’s actions during his second term pose "the greatest threat that our national parks have seen." Johnson emphasized, "Each action harms our national parks, but together they undermine the very conservation foundation the Park Service was founded on and the legacy conservation champions like Teddy Roosevelt left for our country."
