It didn’t take long for the left to erupt in outrage after the Trump administration made a few common-sense changes to the National Parks fee-free calendar. The big headline? President Trump’s birthday, June 14, has been added as a fee-free day to enter our national parks. That’s right — a day to celebrate the man who brought back American pride, rebuilt our economy, defended our borders, and put our country first.
But instead of recognizing that as a patriotic gesture, critics are crying foul because two other fee-free days — Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth — are no longer on the updated 2026 list. The media is spinning this as some kind of attack on civil rights. Let’s be clear: it’s not.
Here are the facts.
Under the new plan, the Trump administration is trimming back the inflated list of free-entry days and refocusing them on historical and patriotic dates that tie into the spirit of the National Parks. Along with the President’s birthday, the new fee-free days include Constitution Day, the birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt (a known conservationist and the man who helped create the National Park System), and the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service itself.
Other fee-free days will now align with major American holidays — Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July weekend — when most Americans are already out enjoying their country. Veterans Day will also remain a fee-free day, honoring those who gave everything for our freedom. That’s a strong lineup rooted in American tradition, not identity politics.
The outrage from Democrat lawmakers and left-wing groups isn’t really about parks — it’s about politics. They’re upset that Trump is finally shifting the focus of our national holidays back to celebrating America, not dividing it by race or grievance. They want to keep everything filtered through the lens of identity politics, where every decision is judged by how it “represents” different groups, instead of what benefits the country as a whole.
Let’s also remember that Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth aren’t being “erased.” They remain federal holidays. Nobody is banning their observance. What’s changed is that the National Park Service — an agency supported by taxpayer dollars — is choosing to highlight fewer fee-free days and align them with broadly shared patriotic themes. It’s a rebalancing, not a cancellation.
And if we’re being honest, how many folks were really planning their park trips around Juneteenth? Attendance data showed that traditional patriotic holidays like Independence Day and Memorial Day already bring in the most visitors. The Trump administration is simply focusing on the days when Americans are already most engaged with our national parks and heritage.
There are other changes, too — ones that make practical sense. Starting in 2026, the National Park Service will roll out a fully digital pass system through Recreation.gov, letting Americans buy and activate their park passes right on their phones. That’s modern, efficient, and saves time. U.S. citizens will continue to pay the same $80 annual fee for access to all federal parks, while international visitors will see a price hike — from $80 to $250. That’s only fair. Why should American taxpayers foot the bill for tourists visiting from overseas?
Non-resident day-use fees will also rise by $100 at the most visited parks. Again, this ensures that foreign visitors pay their fair share to help maintain our parks and trails. Taxpayers should not be subsidizing foreign tourism. These updates are about fairness, sustainability, and putting Americans first.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum summed it up well: these updates are a way to make sure our parks are supported and enjoyed by those who pay for them. It’s just another example of the Trump administration putting America first — in our borders, in our economy, and now in our national parks.
So while the left screams about “controversy,” the rest of us see it for what it really is: smart policy, patriotic priorities, and a long-overdue return to celebrating American greatness.