- President Trump signs executive order forming the Make America Beautiful Again Commission.
- Commission to oversee conservation, restoration, and access to national parks and public lands.
- Addresses $34B in deferred maintenance in National Park and Forest Services.
- Seeks to boost $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy and restore outdoor traditions.
WASHINGTON, July 3, 2025 — President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order creating the “Make America Beautiful Again Commission,” a sweeping new initiative aimed at restoring America’s public lands, boosting outdoor recreation access, and advancing economic growth through conservation policies.
The order outlines a wide-ranging policy approach to tackle decades of regulatory overreach and environmental neglect, focusing on expanding access to national parks, forests, and waterways for activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and boating. “To ensure that the next generation of Americans inherits this same sense of duty and adventure,” Trump declared, “my Administration will prioritize conserving our great American national parks and outdoor recreation areas.”
A Commission to Guide the Vision
Chaired by the Secretary of the Interior and led by the President’s Assistant for Domestic Policy, the Commission brings together a high-profile panel of Cabinet-level officials, including the Secretaries of Defense and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
The bipartisan commission is tasked with developing policy solutions that conserve fish and wildlife populations, expand access to clean drinking water, and ensure interagency coordination on land and water conservation projects. The goal, according to the White House, is to transition from “regulation to collaboration.”
Addressing Deferred Maintenance and Land Use Restrictions
The executive order directly addresses long-standing maintenance backlogs in federal agencies. According to administration estimates, the National Park Service faces over $23 billion in deferred maintenance, while the U.S. Forest Service faces over $10.8 billion. Trump’s new initiative aims to not only modernize infrastructure but also reopen public lands to outdoorsmen impacted by restrictive land-use policies.
Key Statistics
- National Park Service faces $23 billion in deferred maintenance
- U.S. Forest Service faces $10.8 billion in deferred maintenance
- Outdoor recreation economy: $1.2 trillion in economic output
- Industry comprises 3.1% of U.S. employees and supports 5 million jobs
These policy moves are expected to benefit a growing outdoor recreation economy, which in 2023 contributed $1.2 trillion in economic output and supported 5 million jobs—approximately 3.1% of total U.S. employment.
Conservation Meets Commonsense Deregulation
The order instructs all federal land management agencies to promote responsible stewardship, reduce bureaucratic delays, and encourage voluntary conservation partnerships with states and communities. New efforts will prioritize collaboration with local wildlife agencies, streamline permitting for restoration projects, and expand activities like hiking, off-roading, skiing, and wildlife viewing.
Though the Commission is advisory, its broad membership and presidential backing position it as a central force for environmental policy under the Trump administration. The executive order notes that costs of publication and implementation shall be borne by the Department of the Interior and will be subject to available appropriations.
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