In an epic statement released via the White House website, President Donald Trump announced a major move he and his administration are taking to protect America’s national parks. Particularly, he announced that heightened fees would be charged to foreign visitors so as to both preserve the parks as treasures mainly for Americans and to help bring in more revenue that can be used to fund and protect them.
Beginning the announcement, the president’s administration noted that Trump had managed to help ensure foreign tourist dollars are used to invest in America’s national parks, saying, “PUTTING AMERICANS FIRST: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order investing in our national treasures by increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting our national parks to improve services, access, and affordability for Americans.”
Explaining how that will occur, the statement noted that fees would be raised for tickets bought by foreigners and permitting would be easier for Americans, saying, “The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to increase fees only for foreign visitors, while making national parks more affordable and enjoyable for American families. The Order increases national park access to American families by directing the National Park Service to ensure that U.S. residents receive priority access in any permitting or reservation systems.”
Continuing, the statement added that the increased fees on foreign tourists will be used to pay for conservation projects that preserve and enhance the beauty of America’s national parks. It provided, “MAKING OUR NATIONAL PARKS BEAUTIFUL AGAIN: The increased fee revenue from foreign tourists will raise hundreds of millions for conservation projects that improve our national parks.”
Further justifying and explaining the point of the ticket price hikes, the Trump Administration ned that everything from infrastructure improvement to conservation projects can now be funded. It said, “Charging higher entrance fees to foreign tourists is a common policy at national parks throughout the world that supports both conservation and affordable access for residents. Increasing entry fees at national parks for foreign visitors will fuel investment in our national parks, reduce the maintenance backlog, construct critical infrastructure improvements, and support conservation projects that improve our majestic national parks.”
The statement also noted that because of tax issues, Americans paid, before this change, a higher rate for national park tickets. It said, “Increasing fees for foreign visitors will also ensure fairness. American citizens fund national parks and public lands with their tax dollars, yet they are currently charged the same rate as foreign visitors who do not pay taxes, meaning that American citizens pay more to see their own national treasures than foreign visitors do. President Trump is ending this unfair situation and putting Americans first.”
Returning to the matter of what the money will be used for and why it is so needed, the statement noted that billions of dollars’ worth of maintenance is needed due to a backlog that grew under Biden and Obama. It said, “When President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog was $14.9 billion. Under the Biden Administration’s mismanagement, the maintenance backlog grew to over $22.9 billion. This Order will improve our national parks and reduce the maintenance backlog.”
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Then, wrapping up, the statement provided that Trump is deeply committed to Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy of conservation. It said, “HONORING OUR CONSERVATION LEGACY: Since the days of Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, America has led the world in conservation policy. This Order builds on America’s conservative, conservationist history and reinvests in our natural treasures while putting Americans first.”
Watch Trump comment on the plan here:
Featured image credit: base image screengrab from the embedded video