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Trump increases fees for foreign visitors to US National Parks

Evan Hummel (Producer), Craig Nigrelli (Anchor/Reporter)
Image credit: William Campbell/Getty Images
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Summary

The order

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, instructing the secretary of the interior to create a plan to raise entrance fees at national parks for foreign visitors.

Implementation

Currently, how much the fees will increase and when the policy will be implemented remain unclear.

America first

Trump said the move is part of his pledge to put America First and the order also directs parks to offer “preferential treatment” to American visitors to national parks.

Full story

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, July 3, raising entrance fees to U.S. national parks for foreign tourists. The Trump administration said the added revenue would be used to improve infrastructure and access for visitors across the National Park System.

During a rally on Thursday, Trump said the fee for foreign visitors reflects his “America First” policy in tourism.

“To fund improvements and enhance experiences across the park system, for this anniversary, I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans,” Trump said. “And we’re going to do that. The national parks will be about America First.” 

Fees may cover some funding gaps

The fee might help cover some funding gaps as the White House plans to significantly cut the National Park Service budget.

The executive action directs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to “develop a strategy to increase revenue and improve the recreational experience at national parks by appropriately increasing entrance fees and recreation pass fees for nonresidents in areas of the National Park System that charge” these payments. 

Timeline and implementation

The order does not specify the amount by which the fee will increase or the timeframe for increases. It only directs the secretary of the interior to develop a strategy for raising entrance fees for foreign tourists. Costs and fees differ for each park; some do not charge entrance fees at all. Trump’s order also states that Americans should receive “preferential treatment” when entering the parks.

The action also repeals a 2017 directive from former President Barack Obama to improve diversity, equity and inclusion at national parks.

National parks face a budget crunch currently

According to the Interior Department, the additional fee for foreign tourists would generate over $90 million annually in revenue. The move to raise fees for foreign park visitors comes as the president considers cutting the National Park Service’s budget by more than $1 billion and plans to implement staff reductions.

The agency has already seen a 24% drop in permanent employees, as reported by the National Parks Conservation Association on Thursday.

Devan Markham (Morning Digital Producer), Alex Delia (Deputy Managing Editor), and Shianne DeLeon (Video Editor) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

President Donald Trump's executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists at U.S. national parks highlights a shift in federal priorities for park funding, tourism policy and national park accessibility.

Park funding and budgets

Raising entrance fees for foreign visitors is intended to generate additional revenue for the national parks, particularly as the National Park Service faces potential budget cuts and staff reductions, according to information from the Interior Department.

America First tourism policy

According to President Trump, the fee increase reflects an "America First" approach, with the executive order directing that Americans receive "preferential treatment" when entering national parks.

Access and equity

The executive order repeals a previous directive focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion at national parks, raising questions about how the new policy may affect access for different demographic groups.

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Synthesized coverage insights across 45 media outlets

Behind the numbers

Sources from different perspectives indicate that the fee increase for foreign tourists could generate between $90 million and hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the National Park Service. Currently, entrance fees at major parks like Yellowstone and Grand Canyon are $20 per person or $35 per vehicle, with an annual "America the Beautiful" pass costing $80.

Community reaction

Local communities dependent on tourism, as well as environmental advocacy groups, have voiced concerns about the impact of both staff reductions and fee increases. According to various sources, park advocates worry that understaffing and higher fees for international visitors may deter tourism and stress local economies that rely on foreign tourists’ spending.

Context corner

Charging different entrance fees based on residency is not unique to the U.S.; as noted in several articles, many countries use a similar tiered pricing model at national parks. Historically, the U.S. has promoted the idea that taxes paid by residents already help fund the parks, which provides context for the policy’s rationale in prioritizing American access and affordability.

Sources

  1. White House
  2. Newsweek
  3. National Parks Conservation Association

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left center on the executive order’s adverse impacts, highlighting staffing shortages — such as the 24% permanent National Park Service cuts — and budget reductions exceeding $1 billion, which they link to diminished conservation efforts and slower emergency responses.
  • Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right frame the fee hikes as a “common-sense reform” promoting “fairness” and “America First,” emphasizing revenue gains from the $90 million to $1.2 billion range and backing from expert groups like PERC, deploying positive, patriotic rhetoric.

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Media landscape

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45 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order during a rally in Iowa to raise entrance fees for foreign visitors to U.S. National Parks.
  • The fee increase aims to generate over $90 million annually for park maintenance as part of budget cuts to the National Park Service proposed by the Interior Department.
  • The order prioritizes U.S. residents in park reservation systems and revoked a prior diversity initiative.
  • Permanent staffing at the National Park Service has dropped by 24% since Trump took office, affecting park services negatively.

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Key points from the Center

  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 3, 2025, raising entrance fees for foreign visitors at U.S. National Parks.
  • Amid staffing losses of 24% since January and a proposed $1 billion budget cut, the executive order aims to boost park funding through increased fees for foreign visitors.
  • Following the order, revoking the Obama memo and maintaining U.S. residents' access, the policy could generate up to $1.2 billion annually for the national park system.
  • Moving forward, the order aims to model park funding on international practices like those in Chile, Ecuador and South Africa, with the new commission's timing and surcharge levels still unclear.

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Key points from the Right

  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order raising entrance fees for international visitors at U.S. National Parks. This will provide needed revenue for the parks system without burdening taxpayers.
  • The order aims to generate over a billion dollars in revenue, addressing maintenance backlogs and enhancing park stewardship.
  • PERC CEO Brian Yablonski stated that charging international visitors more is a sensible decision, reflecting standard practices in other countries.

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Sources

  1. White House
  2. Newsweek
  3. National Parks Conservation Association