FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Contact:
Aaron Lloyd, (202) 367-9386, [email protected]
Tim Whitehouse, (240) 247-0299, [email protected]
New Investigation into Interior’s Use of Taxpayer Resources for Trump-aligned Freedom 250
Diversion of Funds Raises Serious Questions
Washington, DC — Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) today filed a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to the Department of the Interior’s role in the creation, funding, and operation of “Freedom 250,” a private and partisan entity now playing a central role in planning America’s 250th anniversary.
Congress created America250 as the official, bipartisan commission to oversee the nation’s 250th anniversary, with specific safeguards to ensure transparency and public accountability. However, when the administration failed to gain control of that commission, President Trump announced the formation of Freedom 250, pledging “to give America the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen.”
Since then, reports have surfaced that the Department of the Interior funds are being directed to Freedom 250 through the National Park Foundation and that Freedom 250 is being used to sell access to the President, hide donors, and use taxpayer funds to pay for propaganda.
“Under Secretary Burgum’s leadership, the Department of the Interior continues to intentionally hide how it is spending taxpayer dollars and using National Park Service resources,” says Aaron Lloyd, Senior Counsel at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “These FOIA requests are about trying to give the public access to documents the government wants to keep hidden.”
The FOIA requests seek information that will include:
- Records related to any transfer or reprogramming of funds connected to America250 and Freedom 250;
- Communications between Interior leadership and Freedom 250 regarding governance, fundraising, or event planning;
- Documents showing whether Interior staff, National Park Service resources, or National Park Foundation infrastructure are being used to support Freedom 250; and
- Any approvals, agreements, or memoranda governing Freedom 250’s relationship with the Department.
PEER previously sent a formal letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum requesting similar information. To date, the Department has not provided any information.
Earlier this month, PEER Executive Director Tim Whitehouse testified before the House Natural Resources Committee, warning lawmakers that Interior and the congressionally chartered National Park Foundation are moving taxpayer money off the public books to Freedom 250 with no transparency, no accountability, and no guardrails.
“The 250th anniversary celebration should strengthen our trust in our democratic institutions, not erode it,” said Tim Whitehouse, PEER’s Executive Director. “Secretary Burgum does not work for a private corporation. He needs to put the public back in public service.”
PEER will make responsive records public as they are received.
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Read a summary of Whitehouse’s Congressional Testimony on Freedom 250
Read the PEER letter to Interior Secretary Burgum
Watch the President’s announcement of Freedom 250
Read reports that Freedom 250 is selling access to the President
PEER protects public employees who protect our environment. We are a service organization for environmental and public health professionals, land managers, scientists, enforcement officers and other civil servants dedicated to upholding environmental laws and values. We work with current and former federal, state, local and tribal employees.
