Environmental Group Sues to Block Trump Portrait From Replacing Glacier Photo on National Park Passes

The Trump administration announced that some America the Beautiful annual passes will feature a portrait of President Donald Trump alongside George Washington, a change the Department of the Interior describes as part of a set of "commemorative new designs" honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary. The new designs are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

On Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., asking a judge to block the Interior from distributing passes that substitute the contest-winning park photograph with the president’s likeness. The group says federal law requires the primary annual pass to display the winning photograph from the National Park Foundation’s annual photo contest — this year’s winning image is a photograph of Glacier National Park in Montana.

The Interior Department's new "America the Beautiful" annual pass for US national parks. - Department of Interior

“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, the Center’s executive director. “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.”

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, in a short video posted on the department’s website, framed the redesigned passes as a tribute: “It is the department’s honor to showcase the America the Beautiful pass honoring America’s 250th anniversary and the generations who have protected our lands.”

A selection of previous "America the Beautiful" annual passes for US national parks. - Department of Interior

The lawsuit asks the court to enforce the statutory requirement that the primary pass carry the contest-winning image and to prevent the distribution of any pass that covers Glacier National Park’s photograph with the president’s portrait.

The design change comes amid other recent policy shifts from the Interior Department: the administration announced it would end free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth while waiving fees on President Trump's birthday (also Flag Day), and it has said it will raise entrance fees for international visitors at 11 of the most-visited national parks starting next year.

CNN has reached out to the Interior Department for comment on the lawsuit and the planned pass designs.