President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to increase entrance fees for foreign visitors to U.S. national parks, while maintaining or reducing costs for American citizens, with the additional revenue expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for conservation projects and maintenance.
The executive order, signed on July 3, 2025, directs the National Park Service to implement a surcharge specifically for non-U.S. residents visiting national parks, with implementation expected in 2026. While the exact amount of the surcharge hasn't been specified, budget documents estimate it could generate approximately $90 million annually to address the National Park Service's maintenance backlog, which has grown from $14.9 billion in 2020 to over $22.9 billion under the previous administration.
The order also ensures U.S. residents receive priority access in any permitting or reservation systems at national parks. Implementation will require significant changes to current entry procedures, as the National Park Service does not currently collect citizenship information at park entrances, likely necessitating new verification systems and staff training to check visitor nationality.
Comments
Post a Comment