{"id":4741,"date":"2026-07-02T14:34:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T14:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=4741"},"modified":"2026-07-02T14:34:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T14:34:13","slug":"trump-backed-organizer-of-americas-250th-birthday-events-may-have-duped-donors-report-from-house-democrats-alleges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=4741","title":{"rendered":"Trump-backed organizer of America\u2019s 250th birthday events may have duped donors, report from House Democrats alleges"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Donors who intended to support a bipartisan nonprofit that\u2019s organizing celebrations for America\u2019s 250th anniversary were allegedly redirected \u2013 without their knowledge \u2013 to a separate nonprofit behind events being promoted by President Donald Trump, according to a report from a group of House Democrats, citing confidential, unnamed sources.\n <\/p>

Read more You haven\u2019t been enforcing rules to manage your kid\u2019s screen time. How to change that now<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The interim report, compiled by Democratic staff on the House Natural Resources Committee, includes accounts from unnamed sources about donors who wanted to give to the America250 nonprofit, which is overseen by a bipartisan congressional commission, being given incorrect wire instructions so that their money would flow to the Trump-backed Freedom 250.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cA gift solicited in the name of the nation\u2019s nonpartisan birthday commission could thus be redirected without the donor\u2019s knowledge, by an entity created to serve the President\u2019s priorities,\u201d the report said.\n <\/p>\n

\n If true, the actions could constitute \u201cpotential wire fraud and charitable solicitation fraud,\u201d according to the report, which doesn\u2019t detail how much money was diverted, if at all.\n <\/p>\n

\n The 41-page report claims Trump allies sought to sideline America250 while putting the president at the center of the nation\u2019s anniversary and \u201cselling\u201d access to him in exchange for donations. Freedom 250\u2019s activities are largely overseen by top Trump aides, and it has taken steps to brand itself as the \u201cnonpartisan\u201d group \u201cleading the celebration\u201d of America\u2019s birthday.\n <\/p>\n

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\nLaw enforcement officers next to “Freedom 250” signage during a kickoff celebration for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on June 24, 2026.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Tierney L. Cross\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images<\/figcaption>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\nSecuring America\u2019s 250: Law enforcement faces shifting plans and World Cup demands<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

6 min read<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

\n The report echoes complaints from outside watchdog groups about a lack of transparency around the finances and operations of Freedom 250, a subsidiary of the National Park Foundation launched late last year to carry out a slew of 250th programming that Trump hopes will \u201crenew national pride.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Among the events organized by Freedom 250, the group is hosting Trump\u2019s Great American State Fair on the National Mall. An IndyCar race in Washington, DC, and the Patriot Games, a youth athletic contest where two teenaged victors will split a $250,000 scholarship prize, are on the books for August.\n <\/p>\n

\n CNN has reached out to Freedom 250, America250, the White House and the National Park Foundation for comment.\n <\/p>\n

\n The report details an ongoing struggle between Freedom 250 and America250 over taxpayer funds that committee Democrats allege left the bipartisan nonprofit with a shortfall of $100 million.\n <\/p>\n

\n Citing news reports and confidential interviews conducted by staff, the report said the Trump administration has refused to hand over federal funding it had promised to America250.\n <\/p>\n

\n Last year, Congress allocated\u202f$150 million to 250th celebrations in the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill,\u201d and the report contends that White House officials and America250 agreed the group would receive $100 million of those funds. However, according to the report, White House officials informed America250 in November that it would only receive $50 million.\n <\/p>\n

\n Yet, the report said America250 has so far only received half of those funds \u2013 $25 million \u2013 and has \u201cstruggled to execute planned programming amid financial uncertainty and misalignment with Freedom 250.\u201d\n <\/p>

Read more Ocasio-Cortez endorses Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race<\/a><\/p>\n

\n An America250 spokesperson told CNN last month that most financial support for its major July Fourth events comes from \u201cprivate sources.\u201d When asked about reported tensions with Freedom 250 over sponsors and federal funds, the spokesperson said America250 supports \u201cprivate sponsors having the flexibility to work with all organizations planning events and initiatives\u201d for the 250th.\n <\/p>\n

\n Rosie Rios, chair of America250, said in a statement Thursday that the organization will \u201ccontinue to focus on the values-based programming approved by our bipartisan Commission at the local, state, national and international levels, including once-in-a-lifetime celebratory moments during the 4th of July weekend.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cWe are supportive of the many other organizations planning events for the 250th at the federal, state and local level, so all Americans have ample opportunities to join in the celebration,\u201d she added.\n <\/p>\n

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\nA woman on a horse carries a flag past the U.S. Capitol building during a rodeo at the opening of The Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on June 25, 2026.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Elizabeth Frantz\/Reuters<\/figcaption>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n The National Park Foundation told committee Democrats in a letter last month that the majority of Freedom 250\u2019s operating funds come from \u201cfederal funds appropriated by Congress specifically for the 250th anniversary commemorations,\u201d according to the report. Federal records show $68 million has been sent from the Department of Interior to the foundation, which has the ability to distribute the funding to Freedom 250.\n <\/p>\n

\n The report also mentions Freedom 250 sponsorship packages that include V.I.P. event access, speaking roles at the national Fourth of July celebration and an \u201chistoric photo opportunity\u201d with Trump for those who meet donation benchmarks.\n <\/p>\n

\n The National Park Foundation told Democrats on the committee that it was not involved in the development of Freedom 250\u2019s promotional material or donor-benefit packages, according to the report.\n <\/p>\n

\n Like America250, Freedom 250 can maintain the anonymity of its donors. However, Freedom 250\u2019s connection to the White House has caught the attention of watchdog groups and Democrats who are demanding that Freedom 250 make its donor identities public.\n <\/p>\n

\n Freedom 250 lists about two dozen sponsors on its website. A number of these, like Palantir, Lockheed Martin and Oracle, have large federal contracts to provide data and defense services. Others, like Ultimate Fighting Championship and Penske Corp., are led by Trump allies Dana White and Roger Penske, respectively.\n <\/p>\n

\n When asked last month whether Freedom 250 would commit to publicly disclosing its donors, CEO Keith Krach told CNN in an interview: \u201cWe\u2019re all about accountability and transparency.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n For its part, the National Park Foundation has also said that both public and private Freedom 250 funds received or expended will be accounted for through its standard financial reporting and audit processes.\n <\/p>\n

\n In an interview on June 25, before the report\u2019s release, Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat who serves as ranking member on the Natural Resources Committee, said he hopes to more aggressively investigate Freedom 250 if the Democrats retake the House in November. Committee chairs have subpoena power.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThere certainly are red flags waving everywhere about the corrupt quality of this whole enterprise, but we may not be able to tell the full story until sometime next year,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>

Read more Securing America\u2019s 250: Law enforcement faces shifting plans and World Cup demands<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Donors who intended to support a bipartisan nonprofit that\u2019s organizing celebrations for America\u2019s 250th anniversary were allegedly redirected \u2013 without their knowledge \u2013 to a separate nonprofit behind events being promoted by President Donald Trump, according to a report from a group of House Democrats, citing confidential, unnamed sources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"\nTrump-backed organizer of America\u2019s 250th birthday events may have duped donors, report from House Democrats alleges - Relocation Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=4741\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump-backed organizer of America\u2019s 250th birthday events may have duped donors, report from House Democrats alleges - 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