President Donald Trump has taken control of America’s 250th birthday celebrations through a White House-run nonprofit called Freedom 250, bypassing the bipartisan congressional commission and the independent organisation that Congress authorised to lead the Semiquincentennial. The takeover began in December when Trump announced Freedom 250 in a Truth Social video, shortly after the man he had appointed to lead the existing America250 organisation was fired. The new entity, a subsidiary of the National Park Foundation, is overseen by top White House aides and can keep its donors anonymous. It does not answer to the bipartisan congressional panel that oversees America250.

Congress allocated $150 million for the 250th celebrations this year. America250 has received $25 million. Federal records show $65 million has gone to the National Park Foundation, which can distribute funds to Freedom 250. Several states, including Pennsylvania and Oregon, have withdrawn from Trump’s Great American State Fair on the National Mall. A counter-celebration called Next250 held its own event down the street from the White House on Saturday. The fracturing of the national commemoration has turned what was intended as a unifying civic moment into a display of political division.

How Freedom 250 Was Created

The first indication of the takeover came on a Friday afternoon last December, when Trump posted a video on Truth Social announcing Freedom 250. “2026 will be a celebration of America like no other, honoring our nation and all of its glory,” he said. The announcement came weeks after the president’s pick to lead America250—the nonprofit charged with federal 250th celebrations, overseen by a bipartisan congressional commission—had been fired.

Freedom 250 was established as a non-partisan subsidiary of the National Park Foundation. The structure carries specific advantages for the White House. While America250 is overseen by a bipartisan panel, Freedom 250’s activities are largely directed by top Trump aides. While America250 must navigate congressional oversight, Freedom 250 can maintain the anonymity of its donors.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told CNN’s Dana Bash in May that Freedom 250 is “run out of the White House” and that only the organisation can decide whether to reveal its funders. Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, told CNN the arrangement was “problematic,” noting the White House had forged relationships with a nonprofit receiving federal funds without congressional authorization.

According to CNN’s investigation into Freedom 250’s structure, funding, and relationship with the White House, watchdog groups and congressional Democrats have opened an inquiry into the organisation’s finances. The investigation has not changed the flow of money.

As our analysis of executive power and the use of White House-controlled nonprofits to bypass congressional oversight documented, the mechanism of creating parallel organisations outside the congressional oversight framework has become a recurring feature of the administration’s approach to institutions.

The Funding Shift

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” allocated $150 million for the 250th celebrations this year. Of that sum, America250 has received $25 million. Federal records show $65 million has been directed to the National Park Foundation, which can distribute the funding to Freedom 250.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican on the congressional commission overseeing America250, pressed Burgum during an April hearing about the lack of funds reaching the congressionally authorised organisation. Burgum told her that Interior was “working with the White House” and that he would get back to her. The funds have continued to flow.

The administration also began removing America250’s branding from official government channels. Federal agencies took down America250 logos from websites, email signatures, and social media accounts. Banners featuring America250 were removed. Government records show money was directed toward Freedom 250 decorations at federal buildings across the country.

According to federal appropriations records and congressional testimony on 250th celebration funding allocations, the administrative substitution of Freedom 250 for America250 has been comprehensive and largely uncontested.

Sponsors, States, and the Splintering Celebration

Freedom 250 lists about two dozen sponsors on its website. They include Palantir, Lockheed Martin, and Oracle—companies with large federal contracts to provide data and defence services. Ultimate Fighting Championship, led by Trump ally Dana White, and Penske Corp., led by Trump ally Roger Penske, are also sponsors. White’s Phorm energy drinks are sold at the fair.

Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach told CNN the organisation is “all about accountability and transparency,” but did not commit to publicly disclosing its donors. The anonymity of donors to a White House-run nonprofit receiving federal funds has drawn scrutiny from ethics experts.

The content of Freedom 250’s programming reflects the administration’s cultural priorities. A fleet of six mobile museums called “Freedom Trucks” has travelled the country with content produced by conservative education organisations, Hillsdale College, and Prager U. A Christianity-focused prayer event was held on the National Mall in May. A youth athletic contest called the Patriot Games, with a $250,000 prize, is scheduled for August.

Several states have withdrawn from the Great American State Fair. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro told The New Republic that his state pulled out because “the president has politicized this to a degree that businesses don’t want to participate.” Oregon planners cited concerns that the event had become “a more partisan affair than originally presented.” Some states cited finances. GOP governors have touted their states’ participation. The empty booths at the fair have become a visual representation of the political divide the celebration was meant to bridge.

As our coverage of the politicisation of civic institutions and national commemorations has tracked, the 250th birthday has become the latest national event to fracture along partisan lines. John Dichtl, president of the American Association for State and Local History, which advised states on 250th planning, said: “It’s a lost cause to expect anything unifying and exciting coming out of Washington.”

The Counter-Programming

Next250, a left-leaning group, held its own event down the street from the White House on Saturday. Organiser Linda Sarsour, a veteran of the Women’s March during Trump’s first term, said: “The administration doesn’t own the 250th anniversary, nor do they own the story of this country.”

The event featured an indigenous opening ceremony, a march from what was once called Black Lives Matter Plaza, voter registration booths, choirs, and mariachi music. Organisers expected thousands, though the crowd appeared smaller when the event was in full swing.

America250, meanwhile, continues its own programming: a nationwide service campaign and a concert in Los Angeles featuring Chris Stapleton and the Smashing Pumpkins. A spokesperson said the majority of support is expected from private sources. The organisation that was supposed to lead the national celebration is now one of three competing claimants for the public’s attention.