Fifteen House Democrats told a federal judge last week that the administration’s use of President Donald Trump’s image on national park passes poses a direct threat to congressional power.
Rep. Jared Huffman of California, the Natural Resources Committee’s top Democrat, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) filed a proposed amicus brief last Wednesday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The filing comes as an environmental group seeks to have Trump’s image removed from “America the Beautiful” passes, which grant entry to fee-based national parks and other public lands.
As of Monday, the court had not accepted the Democrats’ brief.
The lawmakers argue that the administration has flouted the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which requires a yearly contest to determine the image on park passes, prompting “profound constitutional implications.” They argue that the spat over the images is no “trivial matter” but touches on a “core ideal of our democratic compact.”
