The Trump administration has officially replaced Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth with Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday as fee-free days at National Parks, prioritizing patriotic holidays while ensuring foreign visitors pay their fair share for park access.
Story Highlights
- National Parks removed MLK Day and Juneteenth as fee-free days, adding Trump’s birthday and Flag Day instead
- New fee structure requires non-citizens to pay $100 surcharge at 11 major parks, generating $90 million annually
- Trump’s executive order mandates preferential treatment for American citizens over foreign visitors
- Most fee-free days now focus on patriotic holidays celebrating American heritage and military service
America First Policy Reshapes Park Access
The National Park Service implemented sweeping changes to fee-free days, removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth while adding June 14, which commemorates both Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday.
This shift reflects the administration’s commitment to prioritizing American patriots and ensuring our national treasures celebrate foundational American values rather than divisive political movements that gained prominence under progressive policies.
National parks add Trump's birthday to list of fee-free days and remove MLK Day, Juneteenth https://t.co/pviXqea6h0
— CBSColorado (@CBSNewsColorado) December 7, 2025
Foreign Visitors Required to Pay Fair Share
Non-citizens and non-permanent residents must now pay a $100 surcharge at 11 popular parks, and annual passes for foreign visitors will increase from $80 to $250 beginning in 2026.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized that these changes ensure American taxpayers maintain affordable access. At the same time, international visitors contribute appropriately to park maintenance and improvements, addressing years of subsidizing foreign tourism at taxpayer expense.
Patriotic Holidays Take Priority Over Woke Celebrations
The revised fee-free calendar emphasizes genuinely patriotic observances, including Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend, Constitution Day, and Veterans Day.
Additional free days honor Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday and the National Park Service anniversary, celebrating figures who actually built America’s conservation legacy. This represents a clear departure from the Biden administration’s emphasis on manufactured holidays that divided rather than united Americans around shared heritage.
Financial Benefits Support American Priorities
Trump’s executive order directing preferential treatment for U.S. residents in recreational access rules ensures American citizens receive priority in permitting and lottery systems.
The Department of the Interior estimates the international visitor surcharge will generate over $90 million annually, funds that will directly benefit park infrastructure and services for American families. This common-sense approach ends the practice of foreign visitors enjoying subsidized access to parks maintained by American taxpayers.
Strategic Refocus on Constitutional Values
The policy change reflects broader efforts to restore American priorities after years of progressive overreach that elevated politically motivated observances over traditional patriotic celebrations.
By emphasizing holidays that honor America’s founding principles, military service, and constitutional framework, the National Park Service returns to its core mission of preserving American heritage for citizens who fund these invaluable resources through their tax contributions.
