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Park Service Says Sticker-Covered 2026 Passes Can Be Declared Invalid

The agency calls it a clarification of long-standing anti-fraud rules.

Overview

  • Updated guidance tells staff they may reject America the Beautiful passes if stickers or markings cover the front image, with discretion to decide case by case.
  • Visitors may be asked to remove coverings or purchase a day pass or replacement, and some reports say fines could be assessed at entrances.
  • Interior officials say the clarification reiterates existing void-if-altered rules tied to security features such as holograms and anti-counterfeit elements.
  • This year’s pass departs from the contest-photo tradition by featuring portraits of George Washington and President Donald Trump, prompting sticker protests.
  • A December lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity seeks to replace the portrait design with the Glacier National Park contest winner and to bar presidential portraits on future passes.