Big changes are coming to America’s national parks in 2026, and they’re already sparking heated debate across the country. According to reports from NPR and other outlets, the Trump administration has decided to remove Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list of days when entrance fees are waived at national parks. In a move that’s drawing both applause and outrage, President Donald Trump’s own birthday—June 14, which also happens to be Flag Day—will be added to the list of fee-free days. The new policy, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, comes as part of a broader shift in how the country’s natural treasures are managed and who gets to enjoy them.
The National Park Service (NPS) has long offered several days each year when visitors can enter parks free of charge, typically to encourage public access and celebrate important moments in American history. But starting next year, two holidays closely associated with the nation’s ongoing reckoning with racial injustice—Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth—will no longer be among them. Instead, the calendar of fee-free dates will feature the 110th anniversary of the NPS on August 25, Constitution Day on September 17, President Teddy Roosevelt’s birthday on October 27, and, for the first time, President Trump’s birthday on June 14.
The changes were quietly posted on the NPS website and confirmed by the agency. They reflect, according to NPR, “the administration’s continued pushback against a reckoning of the country’s racist history on federal lands.” The Department of the Interior, which oversees the NPS, has dubbed the new schedule “patriotic fee-free days.” In a statement, the department praised the new approach as evidence of “Trump’s commitment to making national parks more accessible, more affordable and more efficient for the American people.”
But there’s a catch—especially for international visitors. The new “America-first pricing” policy, which also kicks in on January 1, 2026, means that non-U.S. residents will still have to pay entrance fees even on these so-called fee-free days. At 11 of the country’s most popular national parks, including icons like Yosemite and Yellowstone, international visitors will face an extra $100 charge on top of the standard entrance fee. And if you’re an international visitor hoping for a year of adventure, the price of an annual pass will jump to $250, compared to just $80 for U.S. residents.
These changes follow a July 2025 executive order from the White House. The order called for higher fees for non-American visitors and promised “preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules” for citizens and residents. According to the Los Angeles Times, the policy is being pitched as a way to 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.” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum echoed this sentiment, stating, “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 reaction from civil rights groups and conservation advocates has been swift and sharp. Many see the removal of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth as a step backward in the nation’s efforts to acknowledge and address its history of racial injustice. According to NPR, critics argue that the move sends a troubling message about which parts of American history are celebrated and which are sidelined. “This is a clear attempt to rewrite which stories we honor in our public spaces,” said one civil rights leader, who asked not to be named. “It’s hard not to see this as a deliberate erasure of the progress we’ve made.”
Supporters of the new policy, on the other hand, argue that the changes are about putting Americans first and ensuring that those who fund the parks through their taxes get the most benefit. As one administration official told NPR, “The new fee-free days are about celebrating the American spirit and our shared history. There’s nothing wrong with making sure our citizens come first.” Some conservative voices have also praised the addition of Trump’s birthday to the list, framing it as a recognition of the president’s efforts to expand access to public lands for Americans.
But the controversy doesn’t stop at the calendar. The new pricing structure for international visitors is also drawing fire from travel industry groups and foreign governments. Critics warn that the higher fees could discourage international tourism, which brings billions of dollars into the U.S. economy each year. “We understand the desire to prioritize American taxpayers,” said a spokesperson for a major European travel association, “but these steep price hikes send a message that international guests are less welcome. That’s not the spirit of the national parks.”
For many park lovers, the changes are personal. Californians, in particular, are feeling the impact, as reported by The Los Angeles Times. The state is home to some of the country’s most visited national parks, and free entry days have long been a draw for families and communities who might otherwise struggle to afford the cost. “We’ve always looked forward to MLK Day as a time when everyone could come together and enjoy these amazing places,” said a frequent visitor to Joshua Tree National Park. “It feels like something important is being taken away.”
The Trump administration’s approach to the nation’s historical narrative has been a source of ongoing debate. In recent years, the White House has encouraged visitors to national parks to report any signs or displays that they believe cast a negative light on American history or its prominent figures. This campaign, according to NPR, is part of a broader effort to reshape how the country’s story is told on public lands.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior maintains that the new policies will make the parks “more accessible, more affordable and more efficient for the American people.” Whether that promise holds true—or whether the changes will deepen divisions over whose stories are told and who gets to enjoy the nation’s natural wonders—remains to be seen.
As the new year approaches, Americans and visitors from around the world will be watching closely to see how these changes play out on the ground. For now, one thing is clear: the debate over national parks is about much more than entrance fees. It’s about history, identity, and what it means to share the country’s greatest treasures.
