Army Plans $45M Celebration for 250th Anniversary, Coinciding with Trump’s Birthday

The U.S. Army is preparing to spend between $25 million and $45 million for a major celebration marking its 250th anniversary this June on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., officials confirmed to ABC News.

However, the final price tag could increase significantly once expenses from other federal departments are included.

Officials familiar with the planning said the Army’s estimated budget would include the cost of flying in around 6,600 soldiers, along with providing their meals and accommodations during the event.

The celebration will also involve transporting 150 military vehicles, including tanks, and 50 aircraft to the site. Planned festivities include fireworks, flyovers by military jets, and musical performances.

Despite the Army’s initial estimate, the overall cost to the federal government for the June 14 celebration, which also happens to be former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday — is expected to exceed that range due to the scale of the event.

Officials have designated the event a National Special Security Event, placing it in the same category as high-profile events like presidential inaugurations and State of the Union addresses.

This classification requires a significant increase in security personnel and coordination, led by the U.S. Secret Service.

During a congressional hearing on Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was asked about the potential cost of securing the event but said she did not have the numbers readily available and would follow up later.

Because the large-scale celebration coincides with Trump’s birthday, some critics have questioned whether the former president is leveraging the Army’s milestone to stage the kind of military parade he sought during his first term.

That proposed parade in 2018 was ultimately canceled after projected costs surpassed $90 million.