On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, which established Yellowstone as the nation’s first national park. The park’s opening sparked widespread excitement among U.S. citizens and international visitors alike, who saw it as an opportunity to celebrate the country’s natural wonders and resources. At a time when industrialization and westward expansion threatened the nation’s natural beauty, Yellowstone set a powerful precedent for protecting American landscapes, which paved the way for future conservation efforts across the United States.
The Organic Act, signed on Aug. 25, 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson formally established the National Park Service, a federal bureau within the Department of the Interior responsible for maintaining national parks and monuments. As the parks grew in popularity throughout the 20th century, generations were inspired to explore the outdoors and strengthen their appreciation for America’s diverse ecosystems.
Since 1916, the National Park System has charged an entry fee per car. However, to make the parks more affordable and accessible, the America the Beautiful annual pass was introduced in 2004. Since the introduction of this pass, the price has stayed at a consistent $80, granting entry to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks and wildlife refuges, for one year. As someone who has purchased an annual pass in the past, I understand firsthand how much freedom it gives people to explore and how essential it is for making nature more approachable.
In Nov. 2025, the Department of the Interior announced changes that would be made to the National Park System and annual pass. These changes include various price increases and a significant adjustment to the physical pass itself. The Department of the Interior has claimed, “These improvements, launching on Jan. 1, 2026, reflect President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to making National Parks more accessible, more affordable and more efficient for the American people.” Yet the effects of these changes move the parks in the opposite direction, as the price and design changes politicize a public commodity. This is a stark contrast to the history of the park system, as for more than a century, the National Park System has served as a place of refuge from the noise of politics.
Much of the tension regarding these changes revolves around the increase in price of admission fees for non-pass holders and the surge in the annual pass prices for international visitors. In 2026, an annual pass for international parkgoers is priced at a whopping $250 and creates a barrier for worldwide travelers who have long cherished the parks. These changes are not just an annoyance; they actively undermine the inclusive spirit of the park system. Higher prices result in fewer visitors, which ultimately leads to less funding for conservation, maintenance, and wildlife protection. These price increases contradict the purpose of the pass, which was initially created to expand access rather than restrict it. The dramatic shift in price makes the parks feel less open, welcoming, and connected to the idea that nature should be enjoyed by everyone.
I fear that these changes shift us away from the long-standing mission of the National Park Service: to preserve natural spaces for the enjoyment of all people. For decades, the America the Beautiful Pass has given families, students, travelers, and outdoor lovers from all over the world the ability to experience the country’s most treasured landscapes. Personally, I believe the sudden increase in costs is a deliberate tactic to make the parks less welcoming to international visitors, despite having historically contributed significantly to park visitation rates and to local economies. It is truly disheartening that the beauty of the national parks will no longer reach a larger audience. For a lot of people, myself included, the parks instill a deeper connection to American history, conservation efforts, and identity, regardless of background.
One of the most notable changes that has sparked controversy is this year’s pass image. The photo features the image of President Donald Trump alongside George Washington, replacing the traditional nature-themed artwork. The design of the 2026 pass has triggered major debate across social media platforms. For years, the artwork has featured images of landscapes, wildlife, or historical locations that reflect what the National Park Service stands for. While the design was originally used as an homage to America’s 250th anniversary, placing political imagery on the pass risks alienating visitors who view the parks as a space free from governmental tensions.
The image displayed on the annual pass feels like a deliberate attempt to politicize access to nature. This concern feels even more prevalent given that federal law requires the main annual pass to feature the winning photo from the National Park Foundation’s annual photo contest, which for 2026 was an image of Glacier National Park. That requirement ensures that the pass highlights the landscapes the system was created to protect, not the individuals who temporarily oversee it. The decision to feature President Trump’s image despite this legal requirement feels intentional, as though the established rules were set aside to promote a political figure rather than the parks themselves. By replacing a legally selected photograph with a portrait of a sitting president, the pass shifts from being a symbol of a shared experience for the public to something that reflects the priorities of a single administration. This shift transforms what was once a unifying ground into a place of division and controversy.
In response to this year’s pass image, some parkgoers have attempted to cover parts of the pass with stickers or tape. This initiative started a wave of small business creators making stickers to cover the pass entirely. In response, the National Park Service has issued a strict reminder that any defaced or altered pass will be considered invalid. This policy is consistent with past rules; however, in today’s political climate, its enforcement now takes on a new meaning. Preventing people from covering the governmental imagery forces them to display it, overtly politicizing the National Park System.
The national parks were founded on the belief that natural beauty should be preserved and shared. Yellowstone’s establishment in 1872 emphasized that certain places are so extraordinary that they belong to everyone, and the America the Beautiful Pass was created in that same spirit, yet these new rules and regulations undermine that mission. As the 2026 changes take effect, many are asking whether the new policies align with that original vision. While debates continue over pricing, design, and policy, we must continue to understand the impact we have. The national parks cannot endure if we fail to make choices that protect their history and accessibility. I strongly believe that in today’s political climate, the National Park System’s survival depends on whether we take action to uphold the ideals they were created.