Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC – Some visitors could pay higher fees to visit America’s national parks with Donald Trump’s recent budget proposal.
The Trump administration’s National Park Service (NPS) budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 includes a surcharge on visitors from other countries. The proposal doesn’t list a specific surcharge, just an estimate of $90 million in savings.
During Trump’s last term, his administration attempted to hike entrance fees, a move which they backed down on after massive negative public reaction. National polling found that the majority of Americans, including Trump voters, oppose fee hikes and would likely visit the parks less if fees were increased.
This move comes alongside massive proposed cuts to the NPS budget, continued NPS staff cuts, and threats to offload NPS sites to states.
In response, Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club Outdoors for All campaign director, released the following statement:
“America’s National Parks are the envy of the world, with millions of visitors both domestic and international spending time exploring and enjoying these national treasures every year. The proposal to add a surcharge for foreign visitors would create an unprecedented citizenship check for U.S. residents who want to visit a National Park. Instead of shifting the responsibility for our parks onto visitors, the federal government should live up to its responsibility to adequately fund our National Parks and public lands. This is just another attempt by the administration to reduce taxes for Trump’s billionaire friends on the backs of our parks, and now park visitors.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.