AP Photo/Gene Herrick
A quiet shift in national park access is sparking debate this year: Martin Luther King Jr. Day was removed from the list of free admission days. This decision, made by the current administration, has raised questions about priorities and the honoring of a pivotal figure in American history.
Martin Luther King Jr., a first-time Baptist pastor, rose to national prominence during the Montgomery (Alabama) bus boycott in 1955. He later founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, becoming a leading voice in the African American civil rights movement.
In 1963, King galvanized the nation with his “I Have a Dream” speech delivered to a crowd of 250,000 on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, a landmark steeped in the history of abolishing slavery.
The following year, in 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “nonviolent struggle for the civil rights of the African-American population.” His work directly influenced the passage of both the Civil Rights Act (CRA1964) and the Voting Rights Act (VRA1965).
Tragically, on April 4, 1968, King was shot on the balcony of a hotel in Memphis (Tennessee) while participating in a protest rally. James Earl Ray confessed to the crime and received a 99-year prison sentence.
From Assassination to Federal Holiday
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The movement to establish a federal holiday in King’s memory began just four days after his assassination, but legislative efforts faced numerous setbacks for years.
It wasn’t until 1983 that civil rights activists successfully secured Martin Luther King Day as a national holiday at the federal level, with the proclamation signed by Republican Ronald Reagan.
The third Monday of January was chosen to honor King, as it falls near his birthday on January 15, 1929, and aligns with the practice of observing most federal holidays on Mondays to minimize disruption to the work week.
Martin Luther King Day is unique as the only federal holiday designated as a “day of service,” encouraging citizens to participate in charitable activities rather than simply enjoying a day off—a call to action to “not rest, but to help.”
What’s Different in 2026?
On January 19 of this year, government offices will remain closed for the holiday. Banks, including branches of Capital One, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, PNC, Chase, Truist and Citibank, and the stock market will also be closed. Retail stores, grocery stores, and pharmacies may operate with reduced hours.
However, last December, the National Park Service removed Martin Luther King Day, along with Juneteenth—commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans—from its list of free park admission days.
In their place, US Flag Day was added to the calendar, a date that coincides with former President Trump’s birthday on June 14.
According to reporting from San Angelo Standard-Times, a complete abolition of the federal holiday would require Congressional legislation. While the President can issue executive decrees regulating holiday administration—valid for one year—they cannot unilaterally cancel or establish federal holidays.
Trump and his administration have previously made statements regarding Martin Luther King Day, despite the fact that he was sworn in on that day in 2025 and referenced the pastor in his inaugural address. This marks the third instance in American history where inauguration ceremonies coincided with the federal holiday, following similar occurrences in 1997 and 2013 (during the inaugurations of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, respectively).
Recently, Trump stated that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, designed to prohibit discrimination, had resulted in discrimination against white citizens.
“I believe that while it has accomplished some great things, many people have suffered—those who were worthy of going to college or getting a job were not able to do so. So it was reverse discrimination,” stated Trump in an interview with the New York Times (NYT).
A Call to Protect Parks
Congressman Gabe Amo, Democrat of Rhode Island, recently proposed The Preventing Authoritarian Resource Kidnapping Act (PARK Act). The initiative was jointly introduced with Natural Resources Committee Minority Whip Jared Huffman, who oversees the National Park Service.
“Donald Trump never learned the principle of leave no trace. Now he is again trying to “pollute” our national parks with his narcissistic antics. Taking away free admission for Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth Day while promoting your own birthday is perverse and wrong. I am proud to introduce the PARK Act and stand against this madness. National parks belong to all of us, not to a president who puts personal interests above serving the public,” said Congressman Gabe Amo.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also voiced opposition to the president’s decision. On Friday he stated that the state secured private funding to offset the costs of free vehicle access to parks, defying the executive order. As a result, over 200 California state parks will offer free admission on Monday.
The funding was provided by The California State Parks Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to park support and protection.
“As Trump seeks to erase King’s legacy, California will honor him,” Newsom’s office said in a statement.
On Monday, vehicles carrying up to nine passengers will be admitted to participating parks free of charge. A list of these locations is available on the California State Park Service website.
