PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order investing in our national treasures by increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting our national parks to improve services, access, and affordability for Americans.
- The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to increase fees only for foreign visitors, while making national parks more affordable and enjoyable for American families.
- The Order increases national park access to American families by directing the National Park Service to ensure that U.S. residents receive priority access in any permitting or reservation systems.
MAKING OUR NATIONAL PARKS BEAUTIFUL AGAIN: The increased fee revenue from foreign tourists will raise hundreds of millions for conservation projects that improve our national parks.
- Charging higher entrance fees to foreign tourists is a common policy at national parks throughout the world that supports both conservation and affordable access for residents.
- Increasing entry fees at national parks for foreign visitors will fuel investment in our national parks, reduce the maintenance backlog, construct critical infrastructure improvements, and support conservation projects that improve our majestic national parks.
- Increasing fees for foreign visitors will also ensure fairness. American citizens fund national parks and public lands with their tax dollars, yet they are currently charged the same rate as foreign visitors who do not pay taxes, meaning that American citizens pay more to see their own national treasures than foreign visitors do. President Trump is ending this unfair situation and putting Americans first.
- When President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog was $14.9 billion. Under the Biden Administration’s mismanagement, the maintenance backlog grew to over $22.9 billion. This Order will improve our national parks and reduce the maintenance backlog.
HONORING OUR CONSERVATION LEGACY: Since the days of Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, America has led the world in conservation policy. This Order builds on America’s conservative, conservationist history and reinvests in our natural treasures while putting Americans first.
- During President Trump’s first term, he signed the Great American Outdoors Act—the single largest investment in America’s national parks and public lands in history and the most significant conservation achievement since Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency.
- This Order builds on President Trump’s legacy as a conservation President and fulfills his promise to put Americans first.