In a move stirring both celebration and controversy, the National Park Service has announced a dramatic overhaul of its free admission days for 2026, a decision that has ignited debate over the intersection of patriotism, presidential legacy, and civil rights in America’s most cherished public spaces. The newly published schedule, revealed in late November 2025, eliminates free entry for visitors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth—two holidays deeply intertwined with the nation’s ongoing reckoning with its civil rights history. In their place, President Donald Trump’s birthday, which falls on June 14 and coincides with Flag Day, has been added as a fee-free day for the first time. The policy, set to take effect January 1, 2026, has drawn swift and sharp criticism from civil rights leaders, Democratic lawmakers, and advocacy groups, who argue the move reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to downplay Black Americans’ contributions and struggles for equality while elevating the president’s own legacy.
According to USA Today, the new list of free admission days for U.S. residents marks a significant departure from the 2025 calendar, which included Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, National Public Lands Day, and the kickoff to National Park Week. All of these have been removed from the 2026 schedule. Instead, the updated lineup now features Presidents Day, Memorial Day, a three-day Independence Day weekend, Constitution Day, Veterans Day, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service on August 25, and President Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday on October 27. President Trump’s birthday—never before a free day—now stands out as a new addition, underscoring what critics call a shift toward "resident-only patriotic fee-free days."
The decision to drop Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth has proven particularly contentious. As reported by Fox News and the Associated Press, these two holidays have, in recent years, become popular days for community service and reflection, especially within the national parks. Kristen Brengel, spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, emphasized, "Not only does it recognize an American hero, it's also a day when people go into parks to clean them up. Martin Luther King Jr. deserves a day of recognition ... For some reason, Black history has repeatedly been targeted by this administration, and it shouldn't be."
Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of the last enslaved Americans in 1865, was only recently established as a federal holiday and has quickly become a symbol of the nation’s ongoing struggle for racial justice. Its removal, along with that of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which honors the legacy of the civil rights leader, has been met with outrage by many. Harvard Kennedy School professor and former NAACP president Cornell William Brooks did not mince words, declaring on social media, "The raw & rank racism here stinks to high heaven." Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, a Democrat, echoed these sentiments, stating, "The President didn’t just add his own birthday to the list, he removed both of these holidays that mark Black Americans’ struggle for civil rights and freedom. Our country deserves better."
While it is not unusual for presidential administrations to tweak the list of free admission days, the scale and symbolism of these changes have fueled accusations that the Trump administration is seeking to rewrite which aspects of American history are celebrated in public spaces. According to HuffPost, the changes are part of a broader agenda to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government. Earlier this year, President Trump criticized Juneteenth as a costly holiday, writing on his Truth Social platform, "It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
In line with this agenda, an internal memo from the Department of the Interior, cited by USA Today, ordered national parks to remove gift shop items supporting DEI initiatives, following Secretary’s Order 3416. The department said, "We’re working closely with our partners to make sure this process is smooth and doesn’t disrupt the visitor experience. If any items are found to be inconsistent with the Order, they are being removed from sale." The stated goal, according to the department, is to ensure park gift shops remain "neutral spaces that serve all visitors."
The changes extend beyond symbolic gestures. The Department of the Interior is also rolling out fully digital America the Beautiful passes starting January 1, 2026, as reported by Fox News. U.S. residents will continue to pay $80 for an annual pass, but international visitors will see the price jump to $250, with an added $100 surcharge at 11 of the most visited national parks for non-passholders. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum defended the changes, stating, "President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first. 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." The department says the increased revenue from these higher fees will be directed toward facility upgrades, maintenance projects, and visitor services.
For many, the new policies represent more than just a reshuffling of dates or a change in fee structures—they symbolize a broader debate about who and what is honored in America’s public spaces. Supporters of the administration argue that emphasizing patriotic holidays and presidential milestones reflects a renewed focus on national unity and pride. They point to the continued inclusion of Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day as evidence of this intent. The administration has also refreshed annual pass designs with new patriotic artwork and broadened access for motorcycle riders, allowing each pass to cover two motorcycles instead of one.
Yet, for critics, the removal of civil rights holidays and the targeting of DEI initiatives are unmistakable signs of an attempt to erase or minimize the struggles and contributions of marginalized communities. The decision to make President Trump’s birthday—a date with no prior tradition as a national celebration—a free admission day, while removing days honoring the nation’s ongoing journey toward equality, has only deepened the divide.
As the changes take effect in 2026, the debate over which stories and histories are celebrated in America’s national parks is likely to continue. For now, the new schedule stands as a testament to the ways in which public policy, political ideology, and historical memory collide—sometimes contentiously—on the nation’s most iconic lands.
