The Trump administration has awarded nearly $103 million in federal contracts and grants for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations to a network of politicized entities controlled by Trump administration officials and their political allies, according to a new report. a report Released today by Public Citizen and the Revolving Door Project.
Of the $126 million in grants awarded to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, more than 80% of the awards went to build a series of politicized events, at the expense of the public, according to a report. Recipients of the federal grants include entities controlled or influenced by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita, and Meredith O’Rourke, Trump’s former presidential campaign finance director.
Trump spent the first years of his second administration turning the 250th anniversary celebrations into a celebration for his supporters and himself — as evidenced by a cage match on the White House lawn this weekend on Trump’s birthday.
After a failed attempt to take over the bipartisan nonprofit America 250, the Trump administration bypassed the entity, creating a shadowy new organization known as Freedom 250.
Freedom 250 has replaced America 250 as the Trump administration’s preferred partner for the 250th anniversary celebrations, a preference demonstrated through actions such as linking to Freedom 250 at the bottom of the White House landing page.
Freedom 250 also gets financial backing from a range of major companies. Among Freedom 250 donors, companies facing major federal regulatory issues, including Exxon Mobil, Oracle, Lockheed Martin, Palantir and United Airlines, contributed undisclosed amounts without oversight.
For its part, Freedom 250 has directly allocated at least $79 million in federal funds, including $110 million A grant to the National Park Foundation to support the Museum’s “Freedom Trucks” traveling exhibit created in partnership with… governor Prager U and Hillsdale Collegea Christian university in Michigan. Another $5 million grant was originally awarded to the organization in December to support A250 Events, but has been increased to $500.68.3 million In funds committed in March 2026.
“This Trumpian version of the 250th anniversary is mostly about honoring Trump and catering to his political base,” he said. Alan Zippel, research director at Public Citizen. “The country’s 250th anniversary should be a moment to reflect on the nation’s values. It is clear that the Trump administration is replacing these values with graft, self-dealing, and enriching friends with taxpayer money.”
“Donald Trump has spent his life obsessed with scarring everything in his path with his likeness, his name, and his garish, dictatorial taste in faux gilding.” said Tony Aguilar Rosenthal, program director for the Revolving Door Project. “Ultimately, the cascading episodes of ethics malfeasance from Trump’s Freedom 250 scandals are just another manifestation of elite impunity. The Trump administration has once again found a way to tip the scales in favor of corporate interests even as millions struggle to believe in the American dream 250 years after signing the Declaration.”
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