Jayapal, Huffman Support Plaintiffs Aiming to Depoliticize National Parks Access

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Jared Huffman (CA-02) filed an amicus brief in the case of Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum, supporting the plaintiffs. The case challenges the Department of the Interior’s unprecedented decision to feature a portrait of President Trump on America the Beautiful national park passes. 

“Trump is acting like an authoritarian, putting his face on buildings across Washington, DC, on our money, and even on American the Beautiful passes — replacing Glacier National Park,” said Jayapal. “This is flagrant self-promotion and an unacceptable politicization of our National Parks. This move also violates law passed by Congress, yet another in a long list of oversteps by the Trump’s Executive Branch of their constitutional authority.”

“Donald Trump has a sad, desperate need to see his own face everywhere he looks. The America the Beautiful pass gets a family to their first geyser, a Gold Star family to the trail their son loved most, a road tripper to a quiet morning at the rim of the canyon. These are American places, cared for and paid for by the American people. Turning that pass into a glamour shot of Trump tells every one of those Americans their parks now come stamped with his ego. They don’t. We’re going to court to keep the America the Beautiful pass exactly that, America’s,” said Huffman.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 established the America the Beautiful Pass, an annual access pass to National Parks, aiming to make public lands more accessible. Per that legislation, the passes feature the winners of an annual photo competition run by the National Park Foundation. The 2026 winner featured a photo of Glacier National Park, which will now be replaced by a picture of President Trump. Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum aims to block the Department of the Interior from following through with this move.

The full text of the brief can be read here.

The brief was also signed by André Carson (IN-07), Ed Case (HI-01), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Dave Min (CA-47), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Dina Titus (NV-01), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

Issues: Environment