Trump-era foreign visitor fees generate over $22.5 million for parks
Since the 2025 executive order raising fees for non-resident park visitors, the Interior Department reports more than $22.5 million in new revenue.
An executive order issued by President Trump introduced a differentiated pricing system for national park entry, charging foreign visitors a higher rate while preserving affordable access for U.S. residents. Under the new structure, the annual pass is $80 for Americans and $250 for non-residents, and a $100 per-person surcharge applies at eleven of the most frequented parks in addition to standard fees. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that the initiative has lifted total park fee revenue by 46 % in 2026 relative to the same period last year and by 53.1 % over the final year of the previous administration.
Since the policy’s implementation, the Department of the Interior has collected $22,531,075 from non-resident visitors. Burgum praised the scheme as a sustainable funding stream that spares U.S. taxpayers while securing additional resources for park maintenance and improvements.
Why it matters
Higher fees on foreign visitors are funding park upkeep without raising costs for American taxpayers.
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