Overview

• The U.S. Army's 250th anniversary parade, coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday, is projected to cost between $25 million and $45 million, with potential for further increases.
• The parade will showcase approximately 6,600–7,000 troops, 150 vehicles—including tanks—and 50 aircraft along a four-mile route from Arlington to the National Mall.
• Designated a National Special Security Event, the parade requires Secret Service coordination and extensive interagency security measures, adding to overall costs.
• Concerns have been raised over the inclusion of heavy tracked vehicles like tanks, which could damage roads and bridges, with no finalized mitigation plans yet in place.
• This event follows the cancellation of a similar 2018 proposal, which was scrapped after cost estimates exceeded $90 million and infrastructure safeguards were prioritized.