An Arizona tour company has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a new nonresident fee that's turning international travelers off to some of the country's most popular national parks.
In a new filing, Phoenix-based van tour company Across Arizona Tours claims the unprecedented fees require Congressional approval and are discouraging international tourists from visiting the Grand Canyon and therefore hurting its business.
Trump issued Executive Order 14314, "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks," in July 2025, implementing a new $100-per-person surcharge, on top of the standard entrance fee, for any visitor age 16 or older who lives outside the U.S.
Taking effect earlier this year, it also raised the cost of an annual pass to $250 for nonresidents, compared to $80 for Americans.
"Federal agencies cannot make up fees as they please," Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Jacob Haas, who is representing the company, said in a statement. "Only Congress can authorize federal fees. And Congress has never authorized higher fees for nonresidents—not least because such a policy would discourage international tourism and hurt companies like Across Arizona Tours."
In a statement responding to the suit, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior justified the fee by pointing out that U.S. residents already pay taxes to support protected lands like the Grand Canyon.
"Thanks to President Donald J. Trump, U.S. residents, who already fund the National Park System through federal taxes, are continuing to enjoy affordable pricing, while foreign tourists are paying higher entrance fees to help maintain our parks and improve visitor experiences," the department told The Hill.
"This administration will continue to put American families first—making parks more accessible, more affordable and more efficient for future generations," the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Legal Foundation said that "a win for Across Arizona Tours would confirm that the agencies can’t impose fees Congress never approved and ensure that the businesses, jobs, and tourism built around America’s national parks won’t be collateral damage in the process."
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