NEWS: Sen. Schiff Blasts Trump Admin on Troubling Allocation of Taxpayer Dollars to Private Entity Freedom 250, Potential Commingling of Foreign Money

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is leading 11 Senators in pressing Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum for answers on the recent troubling allocation of at least $100 million in taxpayer funds to Freedom 250, a private entity which has been reportedly soliciting high-dollar donations in exchange for preferential access to President Trump and official government events held for America's 250th birthday.

In a letter to DOI, the Senators are demanding answers from the agency about its decision to direct federal taxpayer funds to Freedom 250, instead of to the official framework set forth by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. The Senators' inquiry also seeks an explanation about possible Hatch Act violations following reports that DOI leadership has directed staff to use Freedom 250 logos in official government materials.

"The American people deserve a clear accounting of why and on what basis the Department of Interior decided to direct funds to a private entity that is unaccountable to the American people. We also seek clarity regarding the National Park Foundation's role in supporting this effort and whether Freedom 250 is commingling federal taxpayer dollars, including from the Department of Interior, with privately raised funds and money potentially raised from foreign sources," the Senators wrote.

The Senators' inquiry also highlights concerns about recent solicitations of foreign donations for semiquincentennial activities. In delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach made appeals to international leaders and foreign-linked entities to make financial contributions to the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations. Recent reporting has also uncovered that U.S. embassies and consulates in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and other foreign posts are soliciting corporate contributions.

Joining Schiff in calling for answers are Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

This push for answers follows Sen. Schiff leading six of his Senate colleagues last month in demanding information from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about Freedom 250, including requesting that the White House provide a list of donors, information on their involvement with anniversary events, and the ethical guidance the group has received from ethics officials.

The full text of the letter can be viewed here and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum:

We write seeking full transparency from the Department of Interior regarding the allocation of at least $100 million in taxpayer funds to Freedom 250, a private entity operating separately from the congressionally appropriated commission established to plan a nonpartisan, civic-focused commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. To date, we have not received a response to our request for information from the White House regarding these matters. The American people deserve a clear accounting of why and on what basis the Department of Interior decided to direct funds to a private entity that is unaccountable to the American people. We also seek clarity regarding the National Park Foundation's role in supporting this effort and whether Freedom 250 is commingling federal taxpayer dollars, including from the Department of Interior, with privately raised funds and money potentially raised from foreign sources.

As the federal agency responsible for allocating congressionally appropriated funds for the nation's semiquincentennial, the Department has an obligation to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent consistently with appropriations law, transparency requirements, and the intent of Congress.3 However, funds appear to have been directed from the official framework set forth by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 to Freedom 250, raising serious questions about the Department's legal authority to allocate those funds and the process by which those decisions were made. Furthermore, public reports indicate that the Department has directed staff to use the Freedom 250 logo, colors, and tagline "for all new materials, websites, social media and event collateral related to the 250th anniversary," seeking to align all semiquincentennial programming with the Administration's politicized messaging rather than the bipartisan commission established by Congress.

Members of the bipartisan U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission have already expressed concerns that up to $100 million in taxpayer dollars intended by Congress to fund civics education, volunteering initiatives, and restore historical monuments has been redirected to Freedom 250 by the Trump-Vance Administration.6 Additionally, the Commission's most recent Quarterly Report to Congress asserts that Commission-approved programming has "yet to receive the funding expected from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4, 2025 to support the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission as submitted to Congress."

To date, at least $10 million has been publicly confirmed to have been allocated to Freedom 250. In December 2025, a grant for $10,142,920 was provided to the National Park Foundation to be used by Freedom250 - described as a "wholly owned subsidiary of the National Park Foundation" - to "tell the story of America's founding" through six mobile exhibits.8 These exhibits are being created in partnership with PragerU and Hillsdale College, two major and well-established sources of far-right and Christian nationalist content.

Recent testimony warned Congress of significant risks involving Freedom 250's opaque financial disclosures, its funding structure, and the potential interaction between taxpayer funds and privately raised contributions. We are gravely concerned by accounts indicating that Department employees have been instructed by agency leadership to display Freedom 250 logos and links in their official email signatures, a practice that could implicate the Hatch Act and constitutional protections against compelled speech.

We are additionally concerned with recent solicitations of foreign donations for the Administration's official or quasi-official semiquincentennial activities. In delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach made direct appeals to international leaders and foreign-linked entities to make financial contributions to shape the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations. Mr. Krach framed the anniversary not merely as a commemorative event, but as an opportunity for foreign actors to "shape a moment that will influence American leadership for the next generation," and promoted what he described as partnership "toolkits for countries, states, and companies."

Furthermore, recent reporting has uncovered that U.S. embassies and consulates in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and other foreign posts are soliciting corporate contributions to underwrite celebration activities for the semiquincentennial, with some posts seeking tens of millions in

foreign-linked donations for events abroad. U.S. ambassadors have reportedly urged foreign executives to contribute to the international anniversary campaign, associating some fundraising efforts with Freedom 250 branding or linked events.

While Freedom 250 has denied acceptance of foreign funds, these overt diplomatic fundraising activities raise serious questions regarding whether and how foreign contributions are being solicited or accepted in connection with semiquincentennial events, how the Department and Freedom 250 will ensure compliance with federal law and longstanding safeguards against foreign influence, and whether foreign donors could gain preferential access or influence through contributions associated with the Administration's official or quasi-official activities.

In order to carry out our oversight responsibilities and provide transparency to the American public, we request the following information by March 13, 2026:

1. Provide a complete accounting of all federal funds provided to Freedom 250 to your knowledge, including any obligated and disbursed amounts.

1. Provide a complete accounting of the award mechanisms by which these funds were provided to Freedom 250.
2. Was the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission aware or involved in any providing of federal funds to Freedom 250?

1. Identify the authority under which the Department has transferred, obligated, or otherwise made federal funds available to Freedom 250.

1. Provide any legal memoranda, opinions, or other analyses addressing the Department's authority to direct funds appropriated for the Department, National Park Foundation, America250, or any other semiquincentennial activities to Freedom 250.
2. Provide all documentation of communications from the Department to the White House, U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, America250, or Freedom 250 personnel regarding any funds transferred, obligated, or otherwise made available to Freedom 250.
3. Was Congress notified of any direction of funds? If so, provide copies of all notifications.

1. Describe the financial relationship, if any, between Freedom 250 and the National Park Foundation, including the basis for characterizing Freedom 250 as a "wholly owned subsidiary."

1. Provide copies of all agreements involving America250, the National Park Foundation, and Freedom 250 related to the December 2025 grant transfer.

1. Identify all non-monetary federal resources used, or intended, to support Freedom 250 activities, including staff time, facilities, website infrastructure, and administrative support.

1. Provide the Department's justification for directing employees to use Freedom 250 branding across federal materials, websites, and communications platforms.

1. Provide all documentation of agency leadership directing employees to use Freedom 250 branding across federal materials, websites, and communications platforms.
2. Describe what ethics guidance, if any, was sought or received prior to issuing such guidance to Department employees. Provide any records of communication between the Department and/or Freedom 250 leadership and the Office of Government Ethics or White House designated agency officials.

1. Describe what role, if any, the Department played in coordinating, authorizing, or advising on foreign fundraising efforts associated with semiquincentennial activities.

1. Provide any Department guidance issued regarding the solicitation or acceptance of foreign donations connected to Freedom 250 or related programs.

1. Identify any safeguards implemented to prevent acceptance of prohibited foreign contributions, conflicts of interest, or preferential access tied to foreign donations.

We look forward to your response.

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