Potential conflicts over celebrating America’s 250th anniversary spill out in congressional hearing
Congressional Democrats are accusing the Trump administration of trying to hijack plans to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and using the nonprofit National Park Foundation to solicit money from private donors for some of the president’s pet projects. During a hearing Tuesday on the 250th anniversary commemoration, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman of California said President Donald Trump and his allies are trying to “hijack the country’s 250th anniversary and sell access, hide his donors and rewrite history.” The commission formed by Congress to oversee the celebration has so far received just a quarter of the $100 million it was expecting. A White House spokesman said Trump wants to ensure that the country gets “the spectacular birthday it deserves.”