TRUMP’S NATIONAL PARKS FEES SHAKE-UP: NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER TARGETS FOREIGN VISITORS AS PART OF “AMERICA FIRST” AGENDA
President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping executive order that will fundamentally alter the cost structure for international visitors to America’s treasured national parks, marking another significant policy shift in his administration’s broader “America First” initiative. The directive, announced during a Fourth of July rally in Iowa, represents a dramatic departure from decades of relatively uniform pricing policies across the National Park Service system.
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER UNVEILED
The comprehensive executive order instructs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to develop and implement a strategic framework that will substantially increase entrance and recreation pass fees specifically for non-U.S. residents visiting any of the nation’s fee-charging national parks. This policy shift affects the 63 national parks scattered across the United States, many of which have become bucket-list destinations for international travelers seeking to experience America’s natural wonders.
Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd in Iowa, Trump emphasized the nationalist rationale behind the decision: “To fund improvements and enhanced experiences across the park system, I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans. The national parks will be about America first.”
