January 1, Trump’s Conservation Legacy Faces Shocking Threat from Congress

Wyatt’s Take

• Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act delivered real results for public lands — but it expired last year, leaving America’s natural inheritance at risk
• National parks face a staggering $40 billion maintenance backlog while visitor numbers hit all-time highs
• New bill would make foreign tourists finally pay their fair share instead of sticking American taxpayers with the bill

Real conservatives know that conservation isn’t some left-wing plot to lock up land. It’s about managing what we’ve got so our kids and grandkids can hunt, fish, hike and camp on the same public lands our parents fought to preserve.

Six years back, President Donald Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law. That bill created the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, which paid for infrastructure projects across America’s most treasured landscapes.

But here’s the problem: that program expired last year. And now the future of America’s natural inheritance hangs in the balance.

As our country celebrates its 250th birthday, Congress needs to reauthorize this fund by passing the Great American Outdoors Act 250. Americans are visiting national parks in record numbers, and the deferred maintenance backlog has ballooned to more than $40 billion.

This isn’t just about pretty views. We’re talking about basic infrastructure that keeps our parks safe and functional.

President Theodore Roosevelt understood this better than anyone. He was vocal about stewarding public lands and protecting what he called America’s “glorious heritage.”

His legacy — the dramatic expansion of national parks and creation of dozens of monuments and wildlife refuges — stands as proof that conservation is a conservative tradition.

Right now, that tradition faces a critical test. A failing sewage system at Yellowstone or Yosemite threatens wildlife and ranchers.

Washed-out trails in the Sierras mean fewer opportunities for families to connect in the great outdoors. And lack of basic maintenance leaves our forests vulnerable to devastating wildfires.

In late June, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the GAOA 250 under Republican Chairman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas. The bill reauthorizes the fund at $1.9 billion annually for another five years while prioritizing critical infrastructure and requiring a public dashboard so taxpayers can track every single project.

But here’s the best part: the legislation includes a provision that’s been overlooked for far too long.

International visitors enjoy the same park experiences as Americans, yet they don’t contribute to the tax revenues that sustain them. American citizens subsidize foreign tourists when they pay federal taxes and entrance fees.

The foreign visitor surcharge in GAOA 250 would fix this imbalance. Countries from Ecuador to New Zealand charge international visitors a premium to access their treasured lands.

President Trump ordered a foreign visitor fee through executive action. But the next administration could easily rescind that order, making permanent legislation absolutely vital.

The GAOA 250 surcharge would return 80% of the proceeds directly to the parks where they were collected — money to clear trails, repair facilities and ensure fire prevention maintenance.

Two hundred fifty years ago, the Founders staked everything to secure this land. The rivers and valleys, the mountains and deserts they died for, are now in our keeping.

We must care for them with the same sense of duty born in 1776.

President Theodore Roosevelt said it best:

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children.”

Passing the Great American Outdoors Act 250 is a fitting birthday gift to our nation and a promise that the treasures of the first 250 years will stand for the 250 to come.

Why It Matters

Our national parks aren’t just tourist attractions. They’re part of the American birthright — places where working families can camp, hunt and fish without needing a country club membership. When Congress lets basic maintenance slide, they’re not just neglecting infrastructure. They’re abandoning a promise made generations ago that these lands belong to all Americans, not just the wealthy elite. And when foreign tourists get a free ride while hardworking Americans foot the bill, that’s not hospitality — that’s being played for suckers.