The Controversial Change in National Park Pass Design Sparks Debate
The National Park Service’s decision to feature a portrait of President Trump alongside George Washington on the 2026 national park pass has ignited considerable debate and backlash. Traditionally adorned with images of natural landscapes or wildlife, this year’s pass design has broken away from the norm, prompting reactions from parkgoers and conservation groups alike.
The $80 America the Beautiful pass, granting access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, has sparked controversy due to its new design. Historically, the pass has showcased images selected through a public photo contest, highlighting stunning sites like Arches National Park and iconic wildlife such as bison.
This year’s deviation from the usual nature-themed imagery has led to a wave of “do-it-yourself” protests. Many passholders have chosen to cover Trump’s face with stickers of wildlife and landscapes. Longtime park volunteer and graphic designer Jenny McCarty has spearheaded a sticker campaign, selling designs that cover Trump’s face, with proceeds supporting conservation nonprofits. “We made our first donation of $16,000 in December,” McCarty stated, emphasizing the community’s power.
McCarty argues that this movement is about maintaining the neutrality of public lands. “The Interior’s new guidance only shows they continue to disregard how strongly people feel about keeping politics out of national parks,” she remarked.
In response to the widespread sticker campaign, the National Park Service has updated its policy, stating that passes may be invalidated if they are “defaced or altered.” An internal email, obtained by SFGATE, clarified that passes have always been void if altered, a rule now explicitly including stickers or markings on the card’s front.
Conservation group the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., opposing the new design, arguing it violates a federal requirement for the pass to display a contest-winning photograph. The lawsuit seeks to replace the current pass with the original winning image of Glacier National Park and prevent future passes from featuring a president’s face.
Not all reactions have been negative. Vince Vanata, GOP chairman of Park County, Wyoming, expressed support for the design, telling the Cowboy State Daily that the pass is a fitting tribute to America’s 250th birthday, featuring both the first and current U.S. presidents.
For some longtime visitors, however, the issue extends beyond the design. Erin Quinn Gery, a regular pass purchaser, criticized the image, likening it to “a mug shot slapped onto natural beauty” and compared it to self-glorification. When asked if she would remove her protest sticker, Gery stated: “I’ll take the sticker off my pass after Trump takes his name off the Kennedy Center.”
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
