Trump Administration Asks Congress for $10 Million More to Cover Its 250th-Anniversary Events

The Office of Management and Budget asked Congress for additional National Park Service funding in part 'to recoup costs associated with support of events celebrating America's Semiquincentennial,' according to a July 29, 2026 letter from Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Merkley said Interior staff told his office the figure is $10 million, covering a May prayer gathering, the two-week Great American State Fair and Trump's July Fourth fireworks. Congress had already allocated $150 million to Interior for anniversary events in a July 2025 law.

Most of that money has gone to Freedom 250, a group Trump created last year, rather than America250, the bipartisan commission Congress established a decade ago. House Democrats published a 55-page report this month alleging opaque fundraising, which the group calls a 'partisan smear'; it has not disclosed its donors.

Interior told NPR the request reflects an 'elevated security posture.' Merkley asked Burgum to answer five questions, including on Freedom 250's donors, by the end of next week. It is not clear where the request stands.