Trump signs order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists at US national parks

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for international visitors at US national parks. The order, part of a broader push to fund conservation and infrastructure improvements, comes as the administration proposes cutting more than a third of the National Park Service’s (NPS) annual budget.

While the order does not specify the new fee amount or implementation date, the White House said it expects the measure to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for deferred maintenance and park upgrades. “Charging higher entrance fees to foreign tourists is a common policy at national parks throughout the world,” the statement said. US citizens, it added, already contribute more through admission fees and taxes.

The directive also instructs the Park Service to prioritize US residents in reservation and permitting systems.

Story continues below this ad

Also Read: | Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill passes Congress in big win for US President

Rising visitors, shrinking workforce

The order follows news that permanent staffing at the Park Service has dropped 24% since Trump took office.

Of the 8,000 seasonal workers promised for summer 2025, only about 4,500 have been hired so far, according to an analysis from the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).

These staffing shortages have impacted services at parks like Yosemite and Big Bend, leading to program cuts and slower emergency responses, the NPCA said. Meanwhile, visitor numbers continue to rise: national parks saw a record 331 million visits in 2024—6 million more than the 2023.

(With inputs from Reuters)