National Park Service removes free entry on Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth

The US National Park Service (NPS) has removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from its list of free admission days.

The move is part of President Donald Trump’s “modernization” of the park service, which also includes, starting in 2026, changing the parks’ cost structure to favor U.S. citizens over foreign visitors, following an executive order Trump issued in July.

In addition to removing the two holidays that celebrate civil rights leader MLK Jr and the end of slavery in the United States, the agency is adding Flag Day, which is also Trump’s birthday, as a “patriotic” holiday without a fee.

People who are not U.S. citizens will still have to pay fees on the duty-free dates, NPS said.

For calendar year 2026, US residents will be granted free access to the national parks on President’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day/President Trump’s Birthday, Independence Day Weekend, National Parks’ 110th Birthday, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday, and Veterans Day.

Previously, the Biden administration considered Martin Luther King Jr. Days and Juneteenth to be free admission days with no fees.

Under the Trump administration’s new rules, US residents will continue to pay $80 (£60) for an annual park service pass.

The Department of the Interior, which oversees the parks service, announced last month that an annual pass will cost non-residents $250, and those without a pass will pay $100 per person, on top of standard admission fees, at 11 of the most visited parks.

“President Trump’s leadership has always put American families first,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

“These policies ensure that American taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to preserving and improving our parks for generations to come,” Burgum’s statement continued.

In May, the administration estimated in its report Budget proposal For fiscal year 2026, additional fees for foreign visitors will reach more than $90 million annually.

This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has targeted Juneteenth and MLK Jr Day.

On his first day in office this year, Trump issued an executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from federal agencies, prompting several agencies to ban celebrations of holidays seen as linked to DEI, including MLK Jr Day and Juneteenth. However, both dates remain national holidays.

In June, the Trump administration held a military parade in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US military, which also happened to be Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.