National Park Service Changes Free Admission Policy Amid Controversy

Sun Dec 07 2025 01:43:34 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The National Park Service announces a new list of free admission days, including President Trump's birthday, while eliminating Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, prompting backlash from civil rights leaders and lawmakers.

The National Park Service plans to offer free admission to U.S. residents on President Trump's birthday, June 14, 2026, but will eliminate free access on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. Critics, including civil rights leaders and lawmakers, have condemned the decision, interpreting it as a dismissal of black history and civil rights, while raising concerns about the implications for community service activities traditionally held on those days. The policy changes reflect an ongoing controversial approach by the Trump administration regarding America’s civil rights narrative.

WASHINGTON (PulseWire) — The National Park Service will grant free entry to U.S. residents on President Donald Trump’s birthday, June 14, 2026, a controversial decision as it eliminates free admission for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.

This recent change is seen by many as the Trump administration continuing to downplay civil rights history, promoting the president’s name and legacy alongside the introduction of new admission fees for international visitors.

Critics quickly responded to the modifications, with civil rights leaders expressing their disapproval. Professor Cornell William Brooks, a former NAACP president, labeled the decision as raw & rank racism. Kristen Brengel, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, also emphasized the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day of service for communities, stating, It recognizes an American hero, and it's also a day when people go into parks to clean them up. Martin Luther King Jr. deserves a day of recognition.

Opposition continues to grow, as Democratic lawmakers voice their objections. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (NV) remarked, The President didn’t just add his own birthday to the list, he removed both of these holidays that mark Black Americans’ struggle for civil rights and freedom. Our country deserves better. The spokesperson for the National Park Service did not respond to requests for clarification on the rationale behind these changes.

The new free admission policy will come into effect on January 1, 2026, alongside higher fees for international visitors, as the National Park Service generally adjusts its policies every few years.