National Park Service removes free entry on Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth
The United States National Park Service (NPS) is removing Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth from its list of free entry days.
The move is part of President Donald Trump’s “modernization” of the Park Service, which starting in 2026 also includes changing the cost structure of parks to favor U.S. citizens over foreign visitors, following an executive order from Trump in July.
In addition to removing two holidays celebrating civil rights leader MLK Jr. and the end of slavery in the United States, the agency is adding Flag Day, which is also Trump’s birthday, as a free “patriotic” day.
People who are not U.S. citizens will still have to pay a fee on free dates, the NPS said.
For calendar year 2026, U.S. residents will enjoy free access to national parks on President’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday, Independence Day weekend, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, and Veterans Day.
Previously, Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth were both considered free entry days by the Biden administration.
Under the Trump administration’s new rules, US residents will continue to pay $80 (£60) for an annual park service pass.
The Interior Department, which oversees the parks service, announced last month that the annual pass would cost nonresidents $250, and those without it would pay $100 per person, on top of the standard entrance fee, at 11 of the most visited parks.
“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said.
“These policies ensure that American taxpayers, who already support the national park system, continue to benefit from affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations,” Burgum’s statement continued.
In May, the department estimated in its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that foreign visitor surcharges would bring in more than $90 million annually.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has targeted Juneteenth and MLK Jr. Day.
On his first day in office this year, Trump issued an executive order banning federal agencies’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, leading several agencies to ban celebrations of holidays considered DEI-related, including MLK Jr Day and Juneteenth. However, both dates remain national holidays.
In June, the Trump administration held a military parade in Washington DC to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US military, which also fell on Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.
The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.
