U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a bold America First policy aimed at preserving national parks by raising entrance fees — but only for foreign tourists. In a move to “Make America Beautiful Again,” Trump signed an executive order to increase revenue without burdening U.S. citizens.
“To fund improvements and enhance experiences across the park system, for this anniversary, I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans,” Trump announced at a “Salute to America” event at the Iowa State Fair.
The order tasks Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum with implementing a strategy to boost revenue and improve recreation by expanding a two-tiered fee system. This approach mirrors successful models in countries like Japan, where locals pay less than tourists at popular destinations.
An Interior Department spokesperson called it “a common-sense, sustainable step to preserve our national treasures without increasing the cost burden on American citizens.”
Foreign tourists—who made up a sizable portion of the record 331 million visitors to U.S. parks in 2024—will now contribute more toward maintenance and infrastructure costs. “The national parks will be about America first,” Trump declared. “America first for the national parks.”
