Federal Lawsuit Filed Against US Department of Interior for ‘Trump Branded’ America The Beautiful Pass
Almost two weeks to the day after the US Department of the Interior released a new mock-up of its 2026 America the Beautiful Pass (aka National Parks Pass), the Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the administration.
The lawsuit alleges the administration violated the law by putting President Trump’s face on the pass rather than the winner of the National Parks Foundation photo contest, as the law requires.
“Blotting out the majesty of America’s national parks with a closeup of his own face is Trump’s crassest, most ego-driven action yet,” said Kierán Suckling, executive director of the Center.
“The national parks are treasured by Americans of every stripe. Their timeless power and magnificence rise above even the most bitter political differences to quietly bring all Americans together. It’s disgusting of Trump to politicize America’s most sacred refuge by pasting his face over the national parks in the same way he slaps his corporate name on buildings, restaurants, and golf courses. The national parks are not a personal branding opportunity. They’re the pride and joy of the American people.
“America the Beautiful means wild rivers and majestic mountains, not a headshot of a bloated, fragile, attention-seeking ego. There’s nothing beautiful about that.”
What does federal law say?
While I’m no lawyer, this seems pretty cut and dry to me when it comes to the reading of the law. (Now, it also doesn’t take a lawyer to know that this administration doesn’t care much about the law as *waves hands at everything happening the last 12 months*.)
This is how the law reads:
Section “6801(a) America the Beautiful — the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass” of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 requires that:
“The Secretaries [of Interior and Agriculture] shall hold an annual competition to select the image to be used on the
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for a year.”
The contest and image are not a minor afterthought; they are essential to the democratic and educational goals of the law:
“The competition shall be open to the public and used as a means to educate the American people about Federal
recreational lands and waters.”
It also prohibits the creation of new American the Beautiful passes beyond the seven explicitly named and described in the law:
“(9) Prohibition on other national recreation passes
The Secretary may not establish any national recreation pass, except as provided in this section.”
The Two Passes
The first, Glacier National Park, was one of the contest winners. Currently, it is the non-resident pass.
However, the one below is what will be provided to American residents when they buy their pass in 2026. (Unless this lawsuit stops it.)
Past Passes Show Off America’s Landscapes
Here are 12 past America the Beautiful Covers, none featuring political figures.
Only time will tell what happens next. It’ll be interesting if the Department of the Interior says it will offer both to people next year until the lawsuit concludes.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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