Title: The National Park Service’s Unconventional Pass Design Sparks Controversy and Resistance The National Park Service has recently updated their policy to discourage visitors from defacing this year’s pass featuring an image of President Trump, which has sparked a backlash, sticker protests, and even a lawsuit. The $80 annual America the Beautiful pass grants access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites across the United States. Since its inception in 2004, the pass has typically showcased breathtaking landscapes or iconic wildlife images selected through public photo contests. Past winners have featured stunning locations like Arches National Park in Utah and majestic bison roaming the plains. However, this year’s design took a surprising turn by featuring side-by-side portraits of Presidents George Washington and Trump instead of the usual nature scenes. This change has drawn criticism from parkgoers and ignited a wave of “do-it-yourself” resistance. Photos circulating online show that many national park cardholders have covered President Trump’s face with stickers depicting wildlife, landscapes, or yellow smiley faces to restore the original intent behind the pass design. Some even completely blocked out the entire card in protest. The backlash has also inspired a growing sticker campaign led by Jenny McCarty, a longtime park volunteer and graphic designer who began selling custom stickers meant to fit directly over Trump’s face on her national parks pass. With 100% of proceeds going towards conservation nonprofits, she says the movement is less about politics and more about preserving the neutrality of public lands. “The Interior’s new guidance only shows they continue to disregard how strongly people feel about keeping politics out of national parks,” McCarty said in an interview. This controversy highlights a growing concern among park visitors who believe that political agendas should not interfere with the natural beauty and preservation efforts associated with America’s national parks. While it remains to be seen what impact this will have on future pass designs, one thing is clear: the power of community action can make a significant difference in protecting our public lands from politicization.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5672341/national-park-updates-guidelines-stop-visitors-defacing-trump-picture-pass)
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