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The National Park Service (NPS) is removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from its list of free admission days.
The move is part of President Donald Trump’s plan to “modernize” the park service, starting in 2026, and also includes changing the park’s cost structure to favor U.S. citizens over foreign visitors under Trump’s July executive order.
In addition to canceling two holidays that celebrate civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the end of slavery in the United States, the agency has added Flag Day (also Trump’s birthday) as a “patriotic” free day.
NPS says non-U.S. citizens are still required to pay fees on free dates.
In calendar year 2026, U.S. residents will have free admission to national parks on Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day/President Trump’s Birthday, Independence Day weekend, the National Park Service’s 110th Anniversary, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday and Veterans Day.
Previously, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth were both considered free admission days by the Biden administration.
Under new rules from the Trump administration, US residents will continue to pay $80 (£60) for an annual park service pass.
The Interior Department, which oversees the park service, announced last month that at the 11 most visited parks, annual passes will cost $250 for nonresidents, and those without annual passes will pay $100 per person in addition to the standard admission fee.
“President Trump’s leadership has always put American families first,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Burgum’s statement continued: “These policies ensure that American taxpayers who already support the National Park System continue to enjoy affordable admission, while international visitors make their fair share of maintaining and improving our parks for generations to come.”
In May, the department estimated budget proposal By fiscal year 2026, foreign visitor surcharges will exceed $90 million annually.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has targeted Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
On his first day in office this year, Trump issued an executive order prohibiting federal agencies from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which resulted in multiple agencies banning celebrations of DEI-related holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. However, both dates remain national holidays.
In June, the Trump administration held a military parade in Washington to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, coinciding with Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.
The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.
