A controversial new $100 fee for foreign visitors to America's most famous national parks has triggered operational chaos, long entry queues, and a storm of protest from both tourists and staff. Introduced by the Trump administration on 1 January 2025, the surcharge applies to non-residents visiting 11 major parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Everglades.
Chaos at the Gates: Passport Checks and Angry Turnarounds
National Park Service (NPS) employees, speaking anonymously to the Guardian, report that the new system has caught many off-guard. Staff are now required to check passports or green cards, causing significant delays. "It's been chaos, for staff it has been very trying," said one gate worker at a major western park. The financial impact on groups can be severe, with cars or buses facing bills exceeding $600, leading many to abandon their visits entirely.
Another staffer described the process of asking for citizenship documents as "awkward", noting that even American visitors have criticised the policy. With a significant proportion of visitors coming from overseas, there are fears of a lasting drop in tourism. One NPS worker starkly warned the move risks "alienating visitors for decades".
Legal Challenges and Controversial Annual Passes
The environmental advocacy group the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a federal lawsuit to reverse the fees, arguing they are illegal. The group contends that federal rules do not permit fee changes based on nationality, a point not addressed by the NPS when questioned.
Simultaneously, the new annual "America the Beautiful" pass has stirred its own controversy. While the cost for non-residents has jumped from $80 to $250, the pass for US residents now features a portrait of Donald Trump alongside George Washington. The NPS has warned that covering the image with a sticker could invalidate the pass. Kieran Suckling of the Center for Biological Diversity criticised this, stating, "Trump is acting like a two-bit tyrant. Putting his picture on everything... is childishly comical but also fascistically frightening."
Broken System and Staff Burnout
The fee rollout has exacerbated existing strains within an NPS already reeling from budget cuts and staff losses. One employee from California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks said, "We are badly understaffed... It feels like they have intentionally created chaos." The administration has defended the surcharge, stating it ensures foreign tourists "pay their fair share" for park upkeep and is a small fraction of total travel costs. However, with inadequate signage and a lack of new passes, the implementation has been widely condemned as haphazard and damaging to America's reputation for welcoming visitors to its natural treasures.
