Trump's Birthday Included in National Park Free-Entry Days After Removing MLK Day and Juneteenth

The Trump administration has reshaped the schedule of free entrance days at U.S. national parks, removing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth while adding President Donald Trumps birthday, which coincides with Flag Day on June 14.

Last month, the Department of the Interior announced the new lineup of resident-only patriotic fee-free days, introducing additional dates such as the Fourth of July weekend and President Theodore Roosevelts birthday, while eliminating certain observances like the Bureau of Land Managements birthday. The changes specify that only U.S. citizens and residents are eligible for the fee-free access, with nonresidents required to pay fees, sometimes exceeding $100 per person over 16 at certain parks.

Previously, MLK Day and Juneteenth had been recognized as free-entry days for at least the past two years. The recent adjustments come amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from federal programs.

Earlier this year, on Juneteenth, President Trump criticized the holiday celebrating the end of slavery, arguing that Americans have too many non-working holidays and claiming that keeping businesses closed for such observances costs the country billions of dollars. He warned that the U.S. could end up with a holiday for every working day if changes were not made.

The administrations stance against DEI efforts in national parks was first formalized through an executive order that rescinded a 2017 memorandum by former President Barack Obama, which had promoted DEI policies in the federal workforce. According to an internal Department of the Interior memo cited by USA Today, national park gift shops have also been instructed to remove products supporting DEI programs. The department emphasized that this review is intended to maintain neutral retail spaces for all visitors, in line with Secretarys Order 3416 targeting DEI programs and gender ideology extremism.

Officials stated that they are coordinating with park partners to ensure that these adjustments do not disrupt visitor experiences, and any items deemed inconsistent with the order are being removed from sale.

Author: Harper Simmons