1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to express my concern regarding the announced design for the 2026 America the Beautiful annual pass, which features portraits of two political figures instead of imagery from public lands. Based on the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), this appears to conflict with the law that governs how the annual pass is designed. FLREA requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to hold an annual public competition to select an image that will be used on the pass. The purpose of this image is to educate the public about our federal recreational lands and waters. For years, the pass has followed this requirement by featuring scenery and wildlife from our national parks, forests, and refuges. Placing political portraits on the 2026 pass marks a major change. It removes the educational element and replaces it with imagery that does not reflect the landscapes or wildlife the law was written to highlight. It also appears to bypass the public competition process that FLREA mandates. I am asking for your support in ensuring that the 2026 pass complies with the law in both process and purpose. This means confirming that the required public competition was held and that the design chosen reflects the intent of FLREA, which is to celebrate and educate people about America’s natural heritage. Our national parks and public lands should remain nonpartisan spaces, and the annual pass should reflect that. Thank you for your attention to this issue. I appreciate your commitment to protecting our public lands and preserving the integrity of the programs that support them.