Department of Interior alters rules to void annual passes if visitors cover Trump’s face

Opponents of President Donald Trump were planning to use stickers to cover images of him on passes for national parks — for example, a happy face sticker that would cover the Trump part of an image depicting him next to President George Washington on an America the Beautiful pass.

But according to SFGate reporter Sam Hill, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has updated its "void if altered" rules in a way that appears to forbid such stickers.

Hill, in an article published on January 5, reports that new DOI rules for 2026 are "explicitly flagging stickers and other coverings as alterations that could invalidate the pass."

SFGate, according to Hill, obtained an internal e-mail that DOI business specialists Allison Christofis and Jeff Beauchamp sent to National Park Service staff. The updated policy described in the e-mail reads, "Defacing the pass in any way, including writing on it or adding stickers or other coverings, is a form of altering the pass. Altering a pass can cover up important information and required security features necessary to prevent fraud."

The Hill notes that the National Park Service's policies for passes "has long stated that passes can be voided if the signature section of the card is altered," and now, it explicitly mentions stickers as well.

A Park Service employee, interviewed on condition of anonymity, told SFGate, "I've personally accepted passes that people put stickers on because they just like stickers, and it's never been a problem. If you buy a pass from REI, they have a little sticker on it that a lot of people don't take off. We've accepted those and never had a problem."

The employee added that Park Service workers fear the updated "void if altered" guidelines could slow down entry lines at national parks.

Read the full SFGate article at this link.