Trump Administration Replaces MLK Jr. Day, Juneteenth Free Park Entry with President's Birthday, Drawing Criticism

The Trump administration's National Park Service removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from its 2026 free admission calendar, sparking significant controversy over the decision.

President Trump's birthday on June 14, coinciding with Flag Day, was added as a new free admission day for national parks, directly replacing the removed civil rights holidays.

Civil rights leaders and Democratic lawmakers, as reported by FOX 5 in DC, strongly oppose these changes, emphasizing the cultural and historical importance of the removed holidays.

Critics argue that removing MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth, both significant civil rights holidays, from the free entry schedule disregards their profound historical and cultural importance.

A new Interior Department fee structure imposes a $100 fee on foreign tourists at 11 popular national parks, raising the non-resident annual pass to $250.