Washington, DC — Watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), filed a lawsuit today in the United States District Court in Washington, DC over the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) refusal to release key documents related to President Trump’s controversial and secretive Freedom 250 initiative.

Over the last few months, reports have come out which show that Freedom 250, the partisan, private entity started by President Trump to overtake efforts of America 250, the congressionally mandated public entity, is:

• Diverting $100 million in taxpayer funds from America 250 without congressional approval.
• Co-mingling private funds with taxpayer dollars with no oversight or accountability.
• Selling access to President Trump for up to $2.5 million.
• Seeking foreign donations.
• Using public employees to promote a private entity.
• Using taxpayer funds to push a partisan agenda.

In response to these reports, in February PEER filed multiple Freedom of Information Act requests seeking documents. In a violation of the law, DOI has refused to turn over any documents, raising serious questions about what they are trying to hide. And why.

“America’s 250th anniversary celebration is supposed to be an occasion for strengthening public trust in our democratic institutions, not eroding it,” Tim Whitehouse, PEER’s Executive Director said after filing the lawsuit. “In contrast, Freedom 250 is a privately managed slush fund designed to operate with no transparency, no accountability, and no guardrails. It epitomizes what is wrong with politics today. It also continues a pattern of Secretary Doug Burgum dispensing with a variety of legal safeguards to improperly facilitate Trump projects – particularly around the nation’s capital. Just look no further than his more than $1 billion ballroom or vanity projects, such as the arch.”

###

See PEER suit over Freedom 250 contracts 

Examine what is unknown about Freedom 250

Look at no-bid contract at Lafayette Park

PEER protects public employees who protect our environment, natural resources, and public health. We support current and former environmental and public health professionals, land managers, scientists, enforcement officers, and other civil servants dedicated to upholding environmental laws and values across federal, state, local, and tribal governments.