by Nick R. Hamilton
President Donald Trump is shaking up the national parks calendar with a bold move that has provoked a backlash from the Left.
The administration has revamped the fee-free entry days for 2026, swapping out certain progressive-favored holidays for dates that celebrate American pride and presidential legacy, including Trump’s own birthday on June 14.
Starting January 1, 2026, the Department of the Interior is rolling out a sweeping overhaul of national park access, from fee structures to free entry days, all aimed at prioritizing American taxpayers while modernizing the system.
The 2025 fee-free days, like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, are off the list for 2026.
So are National Public Lands Day and the National Park Week kickoff.
Instead, the new calendar includes Trump’s birthday (which lands on Flag Day), Constitution Day, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.
Adding to the mix, broader federal holidays like Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and a three-day Independence Day weekend join the free-entry lineup for 2026.
Veterans Day, thankfully, remains untouched as the only carryover from 2025.
It’s a shift that screams red, white, and blue, but not everyone’s waving the flag over it.
Critics from the civil rights crowd and Democrat lawmakers are crying foul, claiming this move sidelines holidays tied to black American history.
“Let’s be clear here: both MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth were free entry days last year,” said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).
However, the Trump administration is seeking to prioritize national unity over niche observances.
full story at https://slaynews.com/news/trump-designates-birthday-free-national-park-access-day/