Trump adds his birthday to national parks fee-free days, makes controversial drops
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Trump administration is reshaping how Americans can enter national parks for free; Martin Luther King Jr. by adding President Donald Trump’s birthday as a free day. Day and eliminates Juneteenth in a move that has already drawn criticism from civil rights leaders.
Although presidents frequently revise the list, the changes are drawing criticism from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers who say the dismissals undermine holidays that honor the history and contributions of Black Americans.
The change in free entry days marks a notable departure from the 2025 calendar, which relied heavily on well-established public lands celebrations and civil rights celebrations.
This year’s program includes Martin Luther King Jr. The day featured Juneteenth, National Public Lands Day, and the beginning of National Park Week; Not all of these are included in the 2026 calendar.
TRUMP’S TOP-LEVEL DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS CHRISTMAS TREE SAVINGS PLAN: ‘MAKING THIS SEASON BRIGHTER’
Visitors to Yosemite National Park look at the El Capitan rock formation and Bridalveil Falls from Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley, California. (Tribune News Service via Craig Kohlruss/Fresno Bee/Getty Images)
Instead, the Trump administration has added a list of historically themed or presidentially aligned dates. President Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14 becomes a free day for the first time, as does Constitution Day, which marks the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.
The agency is also shifting some celebrations to federal holidays with broader national recognition, including Presidents Day, Memorial Day and the three-day Independence Day weekend.
YOSEMITE RANGERS BREAK ILLEGAL RANGERS IN EL CAP — ZERO TOLERANCE, SHUTDOWN OR NOT
The Trump administration is making changes to which days the public can access National Parks for free in 2026, adding President Donald Trump’s birthday as a day and adding Martin Luther King Jr. Day and lifts Juneteenth. (Rick Bower/AP Photo)
Veterans Day remains the only date carried over from either year, underscoring how dramatically the free day calendar is being rearranged toward 2026.
FOX 5 in DC He reported that some civil rights leaders had voiced opposition to the changes.
National Parks Conservation Association spokeswoman Kristen Brengel told the station that Martin Luther King Jr. He said the elimination of the day was concerning, adding that the day had become a popular day of service for community groups who used the day to run volunteer projects in parks.
SHUTDOWN LEAVES POPULAR NATIONAL PARK WITH FEW RANGERS WHILE NIGHTHUNTERS TAKEN YOSEMITE: REPORT
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., also weighed in on the changes in a post on X on Friday.
“Let’s be clear here: both MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth were free admission days last year,” he wrote. “The president not only added his own birthday to the list, he eliminated two holidays that symbolize Black Americans’ struggle for civil rights and freedom. Our country deserves better.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House regarding the changes.
AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS ARE AT THE INTERSECTION. HERE’S HOW CONGRESS CAN PROTECT THEM
Entrance sign to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. (John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Home Office is pairing the new free day scheme with a wider overhaul of how visitors access national parks from 1 January 2026.
The agency is introducing fully digital America the Beautiful passes that can be purchased and viewed on mobile devices, including annual, military, senior, fourth class and access passes. recreation.gov. Visitors will be able to instantly activate their passes and link them to physical cards if necessary.
Updated verification tools and new training for park staff are aimed at speeding up entry lines and simplifying visitor experiences systemwide, officials say.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCES IT WILL RESTORE, RE-ADD STATUE HONORING CONFEDERAL GENERAL ALBERT PIKE
Yellowstone National Park sign and entrance. President Trump added his birthday to the list of dates when people can enter national parks for free. (iStock)
“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers who already support the National Park System continue to benefit from affordable access, while international visitors contribute equitably to the maintenance and improvement of our parks for future generations.”
The department is also revamping its annual pass designs with new patriotic artwork that will be featured in both digital and physical versions.
In addition to the digital rollout, management announced it was changing the fee structure to emphasize lower costs for U.S. residents and higher prices for international visitors.
The annual pass will remain $80 for Americans but will increase to $250 for non-residents. Foreign visitors who do not have a pass will pay an additional $100 per person at the 11 most visited national parks.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The agency is also expanding access for motorcycle riders by allowing all America the Beautiful passes to include two motorcycles instead of one.
Revenue from higher nonresident fees will be directed to facility improvements, maintenance projects and visitor services throughout the park system, Interior officials say.
