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4d ago

White House Plans Foreign Visitor Surcharges to Fund National Parks

Interior officials are finalizing fee rates and procedures following a Supreme Court decision that revived park layoff authority under a reduced budget.

People demonstrate during a protest against federal employee layoffs at Yosemite National Park, California, on March 1, 2025.
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Overview

  • A July 3 executive order directs the Interior Department to set surcharge levels on foreign park visitors aimed at generating about $90 million annually for the National Park Service.
  • The Supreme Court’s July 8 ruling lifted a block on staffing reductions, allowing further layoffs in the face of a 24% decline in permanent park staff.
  • The NPS has requested $2.1 billion for fiscal 2026, representing a $1.2 billion drop from the previous year’s funding levels.
  • Advocates and park managers warn that identifying nonresident visitors and verifying passports could slow entry processes and strain fee collection operations.
  • Experts question whether surcharges averaging $6.82 per foreign visitor will generate enough revenue to offset the deep structural and budgetary challenges facing the parks.