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The White House has announced a significant policy shift for visitors to America's national parks. On July 3, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of the Interior to increase entrance fees for non-U.S. residents. The administration stated that the move is intended to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue to address a substantial backlog of deferred maintenance and fund conservation projects across the National Park System.
The directive, identified as Executive Order 14314, mandates the Interior Department to formulate and implement a new fee structure for international tourists. This policy is being introduced as a way to ensure that the upkeep of these natural treasures is financially sustainable. As detailed in a Congressional Research Service report on the new park fees, the concept aligns with practices in some other nations that already have differential pricing for domestic and international visitors to their protected areas.
However, the initiative arrives amid a complex fiscal environment for the National Park Service (NPS). Critics and conservation groups have pointed out that the administration has simultaneously pursued budget reductions and faced challenges with staffing shortages within the park system. This has raised concerns about whether the new revenue will be sufficient to offset other financial pressures on the NPS. The policy aims to boost U.S. conservation funding through increased tourist fees but is seen by some as a contradictory measure given the concurrent cuts.
The White House emphasized that the increased funds are crucial for improving park infrastructure and enhancing the visitor experience for everyone. According to a statement covered by U.S. News & World Report, the revenue generated will be dedicated to conservation efforts. The full impact of the fee hike on international tourism and the financial health of the national parks will become clearer once the Interior Department finalizes and implements the new pricing structure.
