A controversial new $100 surcharge for foreign visitors to America's most famous national parks has triggered operational chaos, lengthy queues, and widespread anger, with staff warning it risks alienating international tourists for decades.
Chaos at the Gates: Passport Checks and Turned-Away Visitors
Since its introduction by the Trump administration on 1 January, the new fee system has caught both visitors and National Park Service (NPS) staff off-guard. The policy requires every non-US resident visiting any of 11 popular parks, including the Grand Canyon, Everglades, and Yellowstone, to pay the $100 charge on top of the standard entrance fee.
Anonymous NPS staff from across the country reported to The Guardian scenes of frustration and confusion. The need to check passports or green cards has led to significant delays at entry gates. "It's been chaos, for staff it has been very trying," said one staffer at a major western park. They described instances where cars full of tourists faced total costs exceeding $600, leading many to simply abandon their plans and drive away.
"A lot of people just turn around, some people yell and get angry," the staffer added. "It's an outrageous fee, it's like we are telling people we don't want them here." Another employee noted the awkwardness of demanding proof of citizenship, stating that even American visitors often react by saying the policy is "messed up."
Legal Challenges and the 'America First' Pass
The policy is now facing a legal challenge. The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit arguing that the nationality-based fee structure is illegal under federal law, as Congress has not passed legislation authorising such a change. The group's executive director, Kieran Suckling, condemned the move, stating it will discourage global visitors and leave them feeling "ripped off."
Compounding the controversy are changes to the NPS annual pass. The cost of an annual pass for non-residents has skyrocketed from $80 to $250. For US residents, the new "America the Beautiful" pass now features a portrait of Donald Trump alongside George Washington. The NPS has warned that covering this image with a sticker could invalidate the pass.
Suckling criticised this addition, noting that the image was supposed to be selected via a photo contest won by a picture of Glacier National Park. "Trump is acting like a two-bit tyrant. Putting his picture on everything... is childishly comical but also fascistically frightening," he said.
Broken System and a Warning for the Future
The fee rollout has been plagued by poor communication, including a lack of signage and online warnings, and even a shortage of the new annual passes. This disarray is exacerbated by deep staffing cuts within the NPS, which has lost around a quarter of its workforce under the current administration's push to shrink the federal government.
"We are badly understaffed, people are working in multiple jobs and now this fee policy has everyone scrambling around," said a staffer from California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. They accused the administration of intentionally creating chaos and disrupting workflow, leading to widespread burnout.
While the NPS claims the surcharge ensures foreign tourists "pay their fair share" for park upkeep and will help address a massive maintenance backlog, the immediate impact has been overwhelmingly negative. One NPS worker issued a stark warning: the policy risks "alienating visitors for decades." With legal proceedings underway and visitor resentment growing, the future of this divisive tourism policy remains deeply uncertain.
