Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) blasted the Trump administration over its request for an additional $10 million in federal funding to cover the costs incurred by various Freedom 250 events on the National Mall.
The Interior Department asked for more money to reimburse the National Park Service for its work during the Rededicate 250 prayer event, the 16-day Great American State Fair, and the July Fourth fireworks show, Merkley revealed in a letter sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
The senator is the ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the Interior Department, which manages the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
“It is unacceptable to ask the American people to bail out Freedom 250,” Merkley wrote in the letter on Wednesday.
“Congress already appropriated $150 million—without bipartisan input—with the administration promising that private donors would help finance the rest,” he said. “If the administration designated Freedom 250 as the responsible entity for these events, Freedom 250—not taxpayers—should be paying the remaining costs.”
Freedom 250 took charge of organizing the district’s semiquincentennial celebrations. The initiative was separate from America 250, a congressionally authorized bipartisan commission formed for the same purpose.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provided $150 million in congressionally appropriated funding to the Interior Department for events related to America’s 250th birthday. Merkley said the amount, combined with private donations, should have been more than enough.
“Our understanding from the administration was that taxpayer funds would contribute $150 million and private donations would contribute the balance of the funding. Given that understanding, what has gone wrong that has led to this additional request for taxpayer funds?” the Oregon Democrat asked.
The Interior Department wanted additional funding to help address security needs following recent threats against events, such as the UFC fight outside the White House in June or the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting in April.
“Given the elevated security threats against high-profile events in Washington, D.C.,” the department told the Washington Post, “an elevated security posture was needed to ensure the safety of the public at these events. This funding would help address the expenditures associated with the elevated security posture.”
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Merkley wants Burgum to answer how the National Park Service and Freedom 250 have spent the allocated $150 million in funds, among other questions. He is seeking a response from the administration official by Aug. 7.
While most of the semiquincentennial events this year are done, Freedom 250 is preparing for the IndyCar Series Grand Prix race in downtown Washington, D.C., in the coming weeks. The high-profile sports event will be held on Aug. 22-23, with race cars speeding at roughly 185 miles per hour along a 1.7-mile track on the National Mall.