The Trump administration is ruffling extra feathers with some followers of America’s national parks — this time by changing images of the picturesque parks on some annual passes with a picture of President Donald Trump’s face.
An environmental group, the Center for Biological Diversity, is suing the administration to forestall the change, set to occur on January 1, 2026.
The Department of the Interior, which oversees national parks, introduced lately it was unveiling “commemorative new designs” for park passes — one of which options Trump’s face alongside George Washington.
“It is the department’s honor to showcase the America the Beautiful pass honoring America’s 250th anniversary and the generations who have protected our lands,” Secretary Doug Burgum mentioned in a video assertion posted on the department’s website.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court docket in Washington, DC, “to prevent President Donald Trump from replacing a beautiful picture of Glacier National Park with a closeup of his own face on the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass.”
The group argues that federal legislation requires the primary annual move to characteristic the successful picture from the National Park Foundation’s annual picture contest, which for the upcoming yr is a picture of Glacier National Park in Montana.
“Blotting out the majesty of America’s national parks with a closeup of his own face is Trump’s crassest, most ego-driven action yet,” mentioned Kierán Suckling, the middle’s govt director. “It’s disgusting of Trump to politicize America’s most sacred refuge by pasting his face over the national parks in the same way he slaps his corporate name on buildings, restaurants, and golf courses. The national parks are not a personal branding opportunity. They’re the pride and joy of the American people.”
NCS has reached out to the Interior Department for remark.
Earlier this month the Trump administration mentioned it was ending free admission to the parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth and as a substitute waiving admission charges on Trump’s birthday, which can also be Flag Day.
The Interior Department additionally lately increased fees for international visitors to 11 of essentially the most visited national parks, beginning subsequent yr.