Washington, D.C. – Democracy Forward launched an investigation today into possible corruption and conflicts of interest connected to planning for celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In a wide-ranging series of requests submitted today, Democracy Forward is asking government agencies including the U.S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Transportation, General Services Administration, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and National Park Service to reveal communications regarding planning efforts for the semiquincentennial celebrations.
Suspicions of corruption surrounding semiquincentennial celebrations have been the focus of public attention, including at a recent congressional hearing, where members of Congress alleged that the administration was attempting to “hijack the country’s 250th anniversary and sell access, hide [the president’s] donors and rewrite history.”
“There is good reason to believe that the Trump-Vance administration is using what should be an opportunity to bring people together and celebrate the best values of our nation as an opportunity to sell influence, line their pockets, and allow dark money donors to further corrupt our government,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “If true, this is a trampling of American ideals that we deserve to know more about. We are hopeful that the information these requests will uncover will help prevent further grift and corruption.”
During the February 2026 hearing, concerns were raised that Freedom 250 – a White House-led initiative to plan 250th anniversary celebrations – is using public money earmarked for a separate, congressionally chartered commission (America250), and is co-mingling it with private donations. In 2016, Congress formed America250, a commission created to lead planning for the semiquincentennial anniversary commemorations. The commission was initially expecting to receive $100 million of the $150 million appropriated for the anniversary, but that funding reportedly dropped to $50 million and so far the organization has received just $25 million. Simultaneously, reports have documented that President Trump’s allies are offering access to him and other perks to donors who give at least $1 million to Freedom250, a private organization created by the president’s allies.
“Siphoning congressionally-appropriated funding away from where it is legally required to go is just one part of this administration’s scam that is fleecing the American people,” Perryman continued. “We need to know more about how this separate commission was set up, what is being promised to donors, and how public money ended up co-mingling with private donations.”
Read the Freedom of Information Act request letters here.
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
