The 250th US Army anniversary parade—timed to coincide with President Trump’s birthday—is yet another example of how federal decisions are imposed on DC without democratic representation or local consent.
The weekend’s activities cost between $25 and $45 million, according to an Army spokesperson. In fiscal year 2025, Congress appropriated $90 million to the Emergency Planning and Security Fund (EPSF) intended to cover DC’s public safety costs related to the presence of the federal government such as the State of the Union and military parade, $50 million of which was carved out specifically for the inauguration. Funding for the EPSF is historically insufficient and as a result, DC has spent tens of millions in local dollars for past events that Congress did not repay.
“DC residents had no part in the decision to bring this autocratic display of military power to our streets,” said DC Fiscal Policy Institute Executive Director Erica Willaims, “and yet we may get stuck with part of the bill. It adds insult to injury after the many ways Congress has interfered with the District’s self-governance and local spending this year alone.”
In addition to these uncompensated costs, the US House has failed to correct the $1 billion forced mid-year cut to DC’s fiscal year 2025 budget. Congress should pass the District of Columbia Local Funds Act of 2025—as written and without amendments—to restore DC’s ability to spend its own local dollars.