The U.S. Department of the Interior, under the leadership of Doug Burgum and during the Trump administration, has undergone significant changes impacting national parks and public lands. Amidst a backdrop of staffing reductions, proposed budget cuts, and new fees, the department aims to navigate the complexities of conservation while promoting access to America’s natural treasures.
In recent years, the Interior Department has seen its ranks of national parks staffers dwindle by a quarter. This reduction comes while the agency has proposed billions of dollars in deficit-inducing cuts to public lands. For many, the future of our national parks and forests hangs in the balance with these recent decisions, which have conservationists and park advocates up in arms.
Additionally, the department has opened logging operations in national forests and defunded various conservation organizations, further complicating conservation efforts. Proposals by the Trump administration to open California’s coast to new oil and gas drilling sparked an intense public outcry. Individuals are struggling with how to best manage resource extraction with environmental conservation.
To improve public access to America’s national parks, Doug Burgum recently declared several new “fee-free days” for park visitors. Save the date for July 3, 4, and 5, 2026! Those dates would coincide with the country’s 250th birthday celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
“This year we’re making it easier and more affordable for every American to experience the beauty and freedom of our public lands.” – Doug Burgum
The department revealed some nifty new designs for their annual passes that will be introduced in 2026. They implemented fee-free days to improve the visitor experience. One such design puts portraits of George Washington and Donald Trump on either side of the coin. A military pass includes a tasteful image of Trump throwing the troops a Nazi salute.
Though we were able to support a number of accessibility improvements, huge fee hikes will still be hitting international visitors hard. Beginning next year, entrance fees for out-of-state visitors will increase more than three times. Design your own experience You can pick one of two tracks. Purchase an annual pass ($250) or pay a $100 per person waiver to enter 11 of our busiest national parks.
Burgum reiterated the key role that visitor contributions play in providing resources needed for maintained parks.
“They contribute their fair share to help preserve and maintain these treasured places.” – Doug Burgum
With this announcement of new fee-free days, we’ll be able to celebrate our nation’s milestones together. Yet another round of staffing cuts and funding reductions would be a truly dangerous step toward jeopardizing the very future of America’s national parks.