Visiting America's national parks is about to get more expensive for international tourists, but that's not the only change President Donald Trump ordered that will impact park visitors.

A new executive order calls for charging non-U.S. residents higher fees for park entry and recreation passes, like the yearlong America the Beautiful pass, which grants access to public lands across federal agencies.

"From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America’s national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories," Trump said in the order issued July 3.

"It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America’s splendid national treasures," he said.

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A group of five Democratic state lawmakers in Florida said they were denied entry to “Alligator Alcatraz,” a new migrant detention facility, on Thursday due to “safety reasons,“ days after President Trump toured the facility alongside Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). 

The lawmakers who tried to tour the facility, which opened on Tuesday, included state Democratic Reps. Anna Eskamani, Angie Nixon, and Michele Rayner, along with two state Sens. Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith.

“Florida law gives legislators the authority to make unannounced visits to state-run facilities — to inspect conditions and check on the wellbeing of the people inside. I’ve served in the Legislature for 13 years, and this has never happened,” Jones said in a Thursday post on the social media platform X.

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The Senate’s version of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” passed Tuesday would make significant changes to student loan programs, worrying advocates that borrowers will face higher monthly payments.

The reconciliation bill revamps the types of student loan repayment plans available to borrowers; how much students will be able borrow from the federal government; and how student loan deferment works.

A storied US agency, one that began under President Kennedy in 1961 with the aim of providing global stability through a wide array of humanitarian aid and development programs, has now formally closed.

Since January, the Trump administration has systematically dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID), canceling thousands of contracts and firing or placing on leave thousands of employees within the U.S. and overseas.

In a public statement issued in early February, the U.S. State Department wrote that USAID "has long strayed from its original mission of responsibly advancing American interests abroad, and it is now abundantly clear that significant portions of USAID funding are not aligned with the core national interests of the United States."

To course correct, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was appointed as Acting Administrator of USAID. And as of July 1, the remainder of the aid agency will be absorbed into the State Department.

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