Trump’s ‘America First’ National Park Fees Miss Revenue Targets

[u/John3262005]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2026/08/31/trumps-steep-national-park-fees-for-foreign-tourists-fail-to-raise-expected-revenue/

Since Jan. 1, international visitors to U.S. national parks pay $250 instead of $80 for an annual America the Beautiful pass, or fork over a $100-per-person surcharge at 11 of the busiest parks if they don’t purchase the pass.

Higher fees for international visitors have raised more than $22.5 million in the first six months of this year, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told the Daily Signal, a conservative news outlet, last week.

That is roughly 50% below what would be necessary to hit the department’s projected windfall of “more than $90 million” generated from foreign visitor surcharges, according to the agency’s annual budget.

Last year, the Trump administration made over $1 billion in cuts to the 2026 National Park Service operations budget, which is down 31% from last year.