How much will Trump's military parade cost? Here's what we know
This weekend, the National Mall in Washington, D.C. will play host to the largest military parade in the U.S. in decades, replete with thousands of soldiers, tanks, parachute jumpers, artillery and dramatic flyovers from vintage warplanes.
The Saturday, June 14 event is to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, according to military representatives and the administration. The date also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and Flag Day. It is unclear if the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps will get their own parade spectacles during their 250th birthdays this fall, as there are no similar events currently announced.
The parade, which will feature Army equipment, flyovers, musical performances and thousands of soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present, caps off a week of programming designed to showcase the country’s military power. Trump posted a short video address about the parade to Truth Social earlier this month, inviting Americans to what he called an "unforgettable" celebration, "one like you've never seen before."
How much will the DC military parade cost?
All that pageantry comes with a price tag.
Officials initially estimated the Army Birthday Festival and parade would range in cost from $25 million to $45 million, but the Army’s latest estimate totaled $40 million, as Paste BN's Tom Vanden Brook previously reported, citing a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The Army Corps of Engineers told Paste BN it is "not expecting damage" to the roads of the nation's capital due to the parade, which will see dozens of huge military vehicles, including more than two dozen tanks, fighting vehicles and Strykers and two types of armored ground combat vehicles, roll through D.C. streets. Yet if damage is incurred, an army official managing the event said the Army will be responsible.
When is the DC military parade?
The day kicks off at about 8:15 a.m. ET with a wreath-laying ceremony headed by Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth at Arlington National Cemetery. It will be livestreamed here, and followed by a succession of all-day events including an evening parade and wrapping up with a fireworks display. The parade, along with several other events and concerts, will also be livestreamed.
Organizers say the procession begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook and Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Paste BN.
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for Paste BN. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.