Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
This presidential order establishes the White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday to plan the 2026 anniversary celebration.
It also reinstates previous executive orders focused on protecting American monuments and building a National Garden of American Heroes, expanding the latter to include 250 historically significant figures.
The order details the task force's composition, responsibilities, and reporting requirements, while clarifying that it does not create new legal rights or benefits.
Arguments For
- Intended benefits: A well-organized and impactful celebration of the nation's 250th anniversary, fostering national unity and patriotism. The reinstatement of Executive Orders related to the National Garden of American Heroes and monument protection aims to celebrate American history and protect national heritage.
- Evidence cited: Specific instances of vandalism are cited to justify the reinstatement of protective measures for national monuments.
- Implementation methods: The creation of a White House Task Force provides a structured approach to planning and coordinating the anniversary celebration, while reinstatement of previous executive orders provides a readily available framework for monument protection.
- Legal/historical basis: The order derives its authority from the President's constitutional powers and existing laws.
Arguments Against
- Potential impacts: The creation of the Task Force could lead to bureaucratic inefficiencies and potential budget overruns. The focus on celebrating the 250th anniversary might overshadow other important national issues.
- Implementation challenges: Coordinating numerous federal agencies and securing adequate funding could prove challenging. Effectively addressing monument vandalism requires effective law enforcement and broader societal solutions beyond executive orders.
- Alternative approaches: The anniversary celebration could be organized through existing agencies or commissions, potentially reducing bureaucratic overhead. Monument protection could rely more heavily on stronger law enforcement and community initiatives.
- Unintended effects: The focus on certain historical figures for the National Garden of American Heroes might spark controversies or exclude others, potentially raising concerns about selectivity and historical biases.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. It is the policy of the United States, and a purpose of this order, to provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026. It is also the purpose of this order to take other actions to honor the history of our great Nation.
This section establishes the policy goal of a significant celebration for the 250th anniversary of American Independence (July 4, 2026), and to honor the nation's history through additional actions.
Sec. 2. Establishing the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday. (a) There is hereby established the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday (Task Force 250).
(b) The President shall be the Chair of Task Force 250 and the Vice President will serve as Vice Chair. The Chair shall appoint an Executive Director, who shall administer and execute the day-to-day operations of Task Force 250, and who shall report through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. The Chair, the Vice Chair, or a member of Task Force 250 designated by the Chair, shall convene regular meetings of Task Force 250, determine its agenda, and direct its work, consistent with this order. The Executive Director and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall assist in the performance of these duties. The Chair may designate any member of the Task Force to preside over meetings of the Task Force.
(c) In addition to the Chair and Vice Chair, Task Force 250 shall consist of the following members:
(i) the Secretary of State;
(ii) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(iii) the Secretary of Defense;
(iv) the Secretary of the Interior;
(v) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(vi) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(vii) the Secretary of Education;
(viii) the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy;
(ix) the Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs;
(x) the Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff;
(xi) the Director of Speechwriting;
(xii) the Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities;
(xiii) the Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts;
(xiv) the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services; and
(xv) the heads of such other executive departments, agencies, and offices that the Chair or the Vice Chair may, from time to time, designate or invite to participate.
(d) The Chair and the Vice Chair, as they deem appropriate, shall invite the Executive Director of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission to provide recommendations and advice to Task Force 250.
(e) Task Force 250 shall coordinate with the executive departments and agencies (agencies) to plan, organize, and execute an extraordinary celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence and shall coordinate agencies’ communications with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. In addition, the Executive Director may seek information or advice from such other agencies as Task Force 250 shall direct.
(f) For administrative purposes, the Task Force shall be housed in the Department of Defense, which shall provide funding and administrative support for Task Force 250, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(g) Agencies shall provide a report to Task Force 250 regarding their respective planning and activities with respect to the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. These reports should be submitted to the Executive Director of Task Force 250 no later than March 1, 2025.
(h) Task Force 250 shall terminate on December 31, 2026, unless extended by the President.
This section establishes the White House Task Force 250, outlining its leadership (President as Chair, Vice President as Vice Chair), membership (spanning various cabinet-level positions and agencies), operational details, reporting structure, and termination date.
The task force's primary responsibility is to plan and execute the 250th anniversary celebration, coordinating with other agencies and the US Semiquincentennial Commission.
The Department of Defense will provide administrative and funding support.
Sec. 3. National Garden of American Heroes. (a) Executive Order 13934 of July 3, 2020 (Building and Rebuilding Monuments to American Heroes) and Executive Order 13978 of January 18, 2021 (Building the National Garden of American Heroes) are reinstated as they were prior to issuance of Executive Order 14029 of May 14, 2021. (b) The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall recommend to the President additional historically significant Americans for inclusion in the National Garden of American Heroes, to bring the total number of heroes to 250. (c) Section 3(c)(ii) of Executive Order 13934 is amended by striking “prior to the 250th anniversary of the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026” and inserting in its place “as expeditiously as possible”.
This section reinstates previous executive orders related to the National Garden of American Heroes project, aiming to include a total of 250 historically significant Americans.
It also modifies a deadline within a previous order, accelerating the process.
Sec. 4. Protecting America’s Monuments from Vandalism. Executive Order 13933 of June 26, 2020 (Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combatting Recent Criminal Violence) is hereby reinstated as it was prior to the issuance of Executive Order 14029 of May 14, 2021. Recent examples of conduct necessitating reinstatement of this order include pro-Hamas-related vandalism of historically significant public monuments and related assaults on Federal officers and employees following October 7, 2023, including the vandalism of the exterior of the Department of the Treasury and of statues in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. on June 8, 2024, and the assaults on Federal officers and vandalism of the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain and Freedom Bell at Union Station in Washington, D.C. on July 24, 2024.
This section reinstates a prior executive order focused on protecting American monuments from vandalism and assault, citing specific recent incidents of vandalism and attacks on federal property and personnel as justification.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This section includes general provisions, clarifying that the order does not supersede existing legal authorities or create any new legal rights or benefits.
Implementation is contingent upon available funding and adherence to existing laws.