Trump Admin Removes MLK Day, Juneteenth From National Parks Fee-Free Days (but adds Trump's Birthday!)

[essentialsaltes]

The Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced its "resident-only patriotic fee-free days" for 2026, and missing from the list were MLK Day, which has been a National Park fee-free day since 2018, and Juneteenth, which was introduced as a fee-free day in 2024.

In place of these days commemorating American history, civil rights and equality, the Trump administration has instead opted to celebrate additional former presidents' birthdays and Flag Day, which is also President Donald Trump's birthday.

The removal of these days as fee-free National Park days follows the Trump administration's pause on certain days of remembrance, including MLK Day and Juneteenth, earlier this year, as part of the president's ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

For next year, the days chosen seem to fall in line with the Trump administration's "America-first" policies.

The department also announced the launch of new digital "America the Beautiful" passes, which will allow Americans to buy and use their passes on mobile devices ... The new passes also feature Trump's face, according to People

 

[Hank77]

2026 National Park Fee-Free Days (for U.S. Citizens & Residents):

• February 16: Presidents' Day (Washington's Birthday)
• May 25: Memorial Day
• June 14: Flag Day / President Trump's Birthday
• July 3–5: Independence Day weekend
• August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
• September 17: Constitution Day
• October 27: Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday
• November 11: Veterans Day

I'm glad to see Memorial Day and July 4 listed here. These are weekends when most Americans get a long weekend for the holiday, when they are more likely to be able to enjoy a journey to a park.

I thought Juneteenth was nothing more than a bid for black voters. If it was really about DEI, there would have been at least one day to recognize Wounded Knee or Sand Creek.

MLK had nothing to do with National Parks, but Teddy Roosevelt did.

Entrance Passes (U.S. National Park Service)

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, covering entrance, standard amenity, and day-use fees.

www.nps.gov

 

[durangodawood]

What about Jan 6?

And if they dont make it free, you should just break in.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I'm glad to see Memorial Day and July 4 listed here. These are weekends when most Americans get a long weekend for the holiday, when they are more likely to be able to enjoy a journey to a park.

MLK had nothing to do with National Parks, but Teddy Roosevelt did.

MLK Day (and Juneteenth) are federal holidays, when many Americans get a long weekend for the holiday, when they are more likely to be able to enjoy a journey to a park. Teddy Roosevelt's birthday is not.

 

[Hank77]

Teddy Roosevelt's birthday is not.

True. However, if anyone at all should be recognized by the NPS for their significance to the national parks, it's Teddy Roosevelt, wouldn't you agree?

 

[essentialsaltes]

The department also announced the launch of new digital "America the Beautiful" passes, which will allow Americans to buy and use their passes on mobile devices ... The new passes also feature Trump's face, according to People

About face: Lawsuit targets plan to put Trump's image on popular national parks pass​

An environmental organization on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over plans to use a rendering of Trump on an all-access annual national parks pass for next year, characterizing the move as the "crassest, most ego-driven action yet" from the administration.

Federal law requires the pass to feature the winning photo of the National Parks Foundation's annual public lands photo contest, which for the 2026 pass is an image of Montana's Glacier National Park, the organization said.

[federal law schmederal law]

"Instead of filing frivolous lawsuits, this leftist group should be thanking President Trump for enhancing opportunities for Americans to enjoy our beautiful national parks," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in response to the suit.

 

[iluvatar5150]

What about Jan 6?

And if they dont make it free, you should just break in.

The Ammon Bundy way! How is he not Secretary of the Interior yet?

 

[Aryeh Jay]

About face: Lawsuit targets plan to put Trump's image on popular national parks pass​

An environmental organization on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over plans to use a rendering of Trump on an all-access annual national parks pass for next year, characterizing the move as the "crassest, most ego-driven action yet" from the administration.

Federal law requires the pass to feature the winning photo of the National Parks Foundation's annual public lands photo contest, which for the 2026 pass is an image of Montana's Glacier National Park, the organization said.

[federal law schmederal law]

View attachment 374328


"Instead of filing frivolous lawsuits, this leftist group should be thanking President Trump for enhancing opportunities for Americans to enjoy our beautiful national parks," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in response to the suit.

Looks better than mine.