Latest news with #MakeAmericaBeautifulAgain
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'America First' national parks plan from Trump slaps higher fees on foreign tourists
As millions of visitors flock to the breathtaking landscapes of America's national parks, the Trump administration is taking steps to "Make America Beautiful Again by improving our national parks." President Trump signed an executive order late last week laying out a number of ways to improve access, further preservation, expand opportunity and improve affordability, according to the executive order. "It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists," the executive order notes. Doug Burgum, secretary of the Department of the Interior, will be tasked with developing a strategy to "increase revenue" and "improve the recreational experience" by increasing entrance fees and park pass fees for nonresidents. While most national parks are free to enjoy, about 106 parks have fees for private vehicles and/or per person charges. The vehicle fee applies to one vehicle and its passengers, while the per-person fee applies individually if people enter on foot or by bike, according to the NPS website. President Trump announced the new policy while at a "Salute to America" event kicking off America 250 at the Iowa State Fair this past Thursday. "To fund improvements and enhance experiences across the park system, for this anniversary, I've just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans," said the president in part. He added, "The national parks will be about America first. We're going to take it. America first for the national parks." An Interior Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital this week, "This is a common-sense, sustainable step to preserve our national treasures without increasing the cost burden on American citizens." The spokesperson added, "With record visitation, this approach ensures that all who benefit from these iconic places contribute to their care and longevity." Fox News Digital previously reported a "two-tier" pricing system at parks, hotels, and even restaurants in Japan as officials grapple with the issue of overtourism. Yukiyoshi Noguchi, counselor, Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., said at the time, "Japanese people sometimes say [that] Japanese people cannot enjoy the domestic tourism." A staggering 331,863,358 people visited America's 400 national parks in 2024, according to NPS. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee is the most popular park, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is the second most visited park — with Yosemite National Park following in third place.
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Trump Executive Order Creates Commission to Open Protected Public Land
President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday establishing a Make America Beautiful Again Commission to 'promote responsible stewardship of natural resources while driving economic growth' on historically protected public land. The commission, to be chaired by Doug Burgum, the interior secretary, and composed of top federal officials and cabinet secretaries, will expand access in parks and forests 'while promoting a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, boating, off-roading, and wildlife viewing,' the order says. It notes that in 2023, the recreation economy supported five million jobs. The action comes as the Trump administration has pushed to open vast areas of public land and federal waters, reversing climate policies enacted by the Biden administration that restricted drilling, mining and other activities across public lands and federal waters. The administration announced plans in June to eliminate federal protections across millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness, which would allow drilling and mining in some of the last remaining pristine wilderness in the country. In April, the administration opened thousands of acres of land in Nevada and New Mexico to oil and gas drilling and hard-rock mining. Mr. Trump maintains that climate change is a hoax and has signed a barrage of executive orders to promote fossil fuels and withdraw support for renewable energy. The executive order said that 'conservation and economic growth go hand in hand' and that by boosting the outdoor recreation economy and promoting activities like hunting, fishing and hiking, 'America can preserve its natural beauty and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.'
Washington Post
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
How this group got Trump to sign a pro-environment executive order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday seeking to 'Make America Beautiful Again,' establishing a council tasked with conserving public lands, protecting wildlife populations and ensuring clean drinking water while remaining silent on climate change. For an administration that has largely focused on rolling back climate regulations and boosting the oil industry, the order is a first nod at outlining a cohesive environmental policy. The move is the culmination of a months-long campaign by Benji Backer, a 27-year-old self-described conservative environmentalist, who brought a draft of the order to the White House in February.
