• A lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity seeks to block Trump's image on national parks passes.
• The lawsuit claims the design violates federal laws mandating public participation in the selection process.
• Trump’s face was selected over a winning photo of Glacier National Park for the annual pass.
• The pass costs $80 and gives access to national parks and federal recreational areas.
• The Department of the Interior has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit to prevent the U.S. Interior Department from placing President Donald Trump's image on the annual national parks pass, known as the America the Beautiful Pass. The lawsuit contends that this action is a violation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which ensures that the yearly pass features the winning image from a public photo contest organized by the National Parks Foundation. The latest winning photograph depicted Glacier National Park in Montana, but the Interior Department's decision to use Trump’s face instead has led to allegations of turning the pass into a "partisan political platform for President Trump," according to the Center for Biological Diversity's complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

According to a statement from Kieran Suckling, the executive director of the Center, “The national parks are not a personal branding opportunity. They're the pride and joy of the American people," highlighting his organization's concerns over the integrity and mission of the national parks system. The lawsuit stresses that Congress has established a clear process for selecting images for the pass, mandating public participation to educate the public about the significance of national parks and public lands, thus directly opposing Trump's inclusion.

The design featuring Trump's face, described as a close-up of the former president wearing a blue coat and red tie, was revealed by the Interior Department last month under the guise of modernizing the pass. The announcement for the new design came without prior mention of Trump's likeness, which also included an image of George Washington. Critics argue this choice undermines the essence of America’s national parks, which are meant to celebrate natural beauty rather than become vehicles for personal advertising, as noted in statements from multiple environmental organizations.

The Interior Department has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit, while legal experts have suggested that such a design decision exceeds the authority granted to the Trump administration. The lawsuit calls for removal of Trump's image and seeks payment for legal fees, illustrating the legal ramifications of potentially politicizing federal recreational access, indicating strong public sentiment against the notion of politicizing national parks, which are typically seen as non-partisan treasures.