Trump National Parks Pass: Are stickers allowed on your park pass? National Park Service warns stickers could void park passes

The National Park Service is now warning visitors that altering their 2026 America the Beautiful pass, even with stickers, could render it invalid. The move follows a growing backlash over the pass’s controversial design featuring President Trump.


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Why is Trump’s face on the 2026 park pass?

For the first time in its history, the America the Beautiful pass does not feature a scenic photograph. Instead, the 2026 design shows side-by-side portraits of George Washington and President Donald Trump. The $80 annual pass provides access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites and has traditionally highlighted landscapes or wildlife chosen through a public photo contest, as per a report by NPR.

Why are visitors covering the image with stickers?

The new design sparked immediate backlash from parkgoers who say national parks should remain politically neutral. Photos shared online show visitors covering Trump’s image with stickers of animals, landscapes, and smiley faces, while others block out the entire card. The movement has quickly spread across social media.

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What is the sticker campaign about?

Jenny McCarty, a longtime park volunteer and graphic designer, began selling stickers designed to fit directly over Trump’s face. She said all proceeds go to conservation nonprofits. “We made our first donation of $16,000 in December,” McCarty said. “The power of community is incredible.”

McCarty said the effort is about protecting public lands from political branding, not partisan protest, as per a report by NPR.

What changed in the National Park Service policy?

This week, the National Park Service updated its guidance to clarify that passes may be void if they are “defaced or altered,” including with stickers or markings on the front. The update was shared in an internal email obtained by SFGATE. Park officials now have discretion to determine whether a pass has been altered, even if a sticker leaves residue behind, as per a report by NPR.



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Is this a new rule?

In a statement to NPR, the Interior Department said the policy itself is not new. Interagency passes have long stated they are invalid if altered, particularly if the signature strip is damaged. The department said the clarification was needed due to confusion caused by the sticker campaign, as per a report by NPR.

Why is there a lawsuit over the pass design?

In December, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., arguing that the new design violates a federal requirement to feature the winning image from the annual parks photo contest. The 2026 winning photograph was an image of Glacier National Park.

“This is part of a larger pattern of Trump branding government materials with his name and image,” executive director Kierán Suckling told NPR. “But this kind of cartoonish authoritarianism won’t fly in the United States.”

What do supporters of the design say?

Not everyone objects. Vince Vanata, GOP chairman of Park County, Wyoming, defended the pass as a tribute to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. “This pass is showing the first president of the United States and the current president of the United States,” he said, adding critics should “suck it up.”

Why does the backlash run deeper for some visitors?

For longtime park users like Erin Quinn Gery, the issue is symbolic. She compared the image to “a mug shot slapped onto natural beauty” and likened it to self-glorification. When asked if she would remove her protest sticker, she replied, “I'll take the sticker off my pass after Trump takes his name off the Kennedy Center."

FAQs

Can a sticker really void a park pass?
Yes. The Park Service says altered passes, including those with stickers, may be invalid.

Why are people protesting the pass design?
Many say national parks should remain free of political imagery.