International visitors to visit U.S. national parks will become more expensive, but that is not the only change ordered by President Donald Trump, which will affect park visitors.
A new executive order requires higher fees for park entry and recreational passes for non-U.S. residents, such as the Beauty of the United States, which can allow federal agencies to cross public lands at federal agencies.
“From the awesome Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, the U.S. national parks provide unforgettable memories for generations of American families,” Trump said in a July 3 order.
“This is the policy of my administration to provide American families with these opportunities by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, increasing the affordability of American residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy the glorious national treasures of the United States,” he said.
The order also requires that Americans “priority be given to any remaining rules of entertainment access, including licensing or lottery rules.”
Any income generated from any income collected by foreign visitors will return to infrastructure improvements and other enhancements to federal entertainment venues.
The welcome sign of the Grand Canyon National Park can be seen from the view near Tusayan, Arizona, USA on June 28, 2025. Reuters/Kaylee Greenlee
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The executive order also revoked a presidential memorandum signed in 2017 by then-President Barack Obama, which promoted a range of diversity and inclusion efforts in national parks and other public land management.
It calls for improved access to all Americans and “consider advice and advice from different populations to protect high-risk histories, cultures and natural locations.”
Diversity and inclusion were also priorities for the park during Biden’s administration.
Before taking office in January, then Director of National Park Services Chuck Sams told USA Today: “When I was sworn in at the Lincoln Memorial, Secretary Haaland said, “On behalf of the President of the United States, myself and the American people, I am accusing you of these monuments, memorials and parks, but we have not told you these stories, or told you these stories, or told you these stories, or for you, or for you, or for you.
“So, working throughout the park system over the past three years, we have been able to tell stories to make sure every American sees their reflection in the park,” he said.
But the latest move comes after Trump ordered the end of the administration’s diversity, equity and inclusion program on his first day in January, which was established under Biden.
USA Today has contacted the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to comment on the new executive order.
This article originally appeared in USA Today: Trump ordered national parks to charge some visitors higher fees
