President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to increase entry fees at national parks for foreign visitors.
“To fund improvements and enhanced experiences across the park system, I’ve just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans,” Trump said at a Thursday evening rally in Iowa. “The national parks will be about America first.”
The order called on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to “develop a strategy” to raise revenue and improve the recreational experience at national parks by “appropriately” raising entry fees for nonresidents in areas of the National Park System. The order said the increased entry fee should be used to improve the infrastructure at national parks.
It also called on the department to ensure American residents are granted “preferential treatment” with other access rules, permitting or lottery rules.
“From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America’s national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories,” the order reads.
“It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America’s splendid national treasures,” it reads.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AXES LOGGING PROTECTIONS FOR NATIONAL FORESTS TO PREVENT WILDFIRES
The move comes as Trump has taken action to reduce staffing in the National Park Service. As of July 3, since Trump took office, the National Park Service has lost 24% of its permanent staff, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.
The president is also proposing to pull back 30% of the National Park Service’s operation and staffing budget in the administration rescission bill. The bill has passed through the House and is awaiting in the Senate.