US Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade Costs Up To $45 Million Amidst Controversy

Washington D.C. – The United States Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on June 14, 2025, with a grand military parade in Washington D.C., a spectacle estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million. The event, which coincided with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, featured over 6,000 soldiers, 150 military vehicles including Abrams tanks, and dozens of aircraft in a display of military might along Constitution Avenue and the National Mall.

The large-scale parade drew significant criticism from various quarters, primarily focusing on its substantial cost and perceived politicization. Critics argued that the event, long desired by President Trump, served more as a personal celebration than an objective commemoration of the Army's history. Democratic lawmakers, in particular, voiced strong objections, with Senator Richard Blumenthal stating, "Trump squandering $45 million in taxpayer dollars on a military parade for his birthday is the epitome of government waste."

The parade's timing on President Trump's birthday fueled accusations that it was an attempt to politicize the military, drawing comparisons by some to displays typically seen in authoritarian regimes. Governor Gavin Newsom of California reportedly called it "a vulgar display" akin to those of dictators. Despite the backlash, President Trump defended the expenditure, remarking that the cost was "peanuts compared to the value of doing it."

The event was designated a National Special Security Event (NSSE), leading to extensive road closures and temporary flight restrictions in the Washington D.C. area. While the Army implemented measures, such as new track pads on tanks and steel plates, to mitigate an initial $16 million projection for road damage, the final repair cost was still estimated at $3.5 million.

Thousands of spectators gathered to witness the parade, which included historical and modern military units, flyovers by various aircraft, and a parachute jump by the Army’s Golden Knights. Concurrent with the celebrations, nationwide "No Kings" protests, organized by a coalition of over 200 groups, took place across the country, with organizers claiming millions of demonstrators opposed the parade as a "costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade."