National parks in the United States have added the birthday of the current president, Donald Trump — June 14 — to the list of days when visits are allowed without paying entrance fees, the same date on which Flag Day is observed, the National Park Service (NPS) announced.
The free-entry days in U.S. national parks have been changed and no longer include Martin Luther King Jr. Day or the National Independence Day — Juneteenth, observed on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. This comes just weeks after the Trump administration announced it would increase fees for visitors who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, CBS News reports.
The administration of former U.S. President Joseph Biden had previously designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the National Independence Day as free-entry days in national parks.
Most days offering free entry to U.S. national parks are patriotic in nature, including Presidents’ Day (February 16), Memorial Day (May 25), the Independence Day weekend (July 3–5), Constitution Day (September 17), and Veterans Day (November 11). The 110th birthday of the National Park Service (August 25) and the birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt (October 27), considered the founder of the National Park Service, are also free-entry days.
Those who are not U.S. citizens or residents will still have to pay entrance fees and applicable non-resident charges on those dates, the National Park Service stated.
About 100 of the 400 national parks in the country charge entrance fees, and prices vary depending on the park.
The Trump administration announced earlier this week that every visitor who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident will have to pay a $100 fee at 11 popular parks.
MORE TOPICS:
Source: Politika, Foto: AP Photo / Evan Vucci