Cost Of Military Parade To Be Held On Trump’s Birthday Spirals To $45 Million

A military parade in Washington next month to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary is creating controversy. The parade, which was the brainchild of President Donald Trump, will be part of the Army’s birthday festival in D.C., which happens to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday on June 14.

The plans for the parade have stirred controversy in Congress. Not only is the parade a last-minute addition to the festivities, which have been planned for a year, but government officials are concerned about significantly increased costs and unnecessary stress to city infrastructure. The festival is currently expected to cost an estimated $25 million to $45 million, featuring more than 6,600 marching soldiers, at least 150 military vehicles and 50 aircraft.

Naveed Shah, the political director of the Common Defense veteran organization, addressed some of the disputes over the parade. “This parade seems like it’s all about the president’s ego rather than the troops who sacrifice everything to serve our country.” Shah is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served four years of active duty and a 12-month tour in Iraq.

The idea for the parade was pitched initially during Trump’s first term in 2018. It was inspired by France’s Bastille Day parade, which commemorates the start of the French Revolution in 1789. The original proposal was shelved after the Trump administration’s cost estimate of $12 million was raised to $92 million by the Defense Department.

Aside from the price point, another primary concern about the 2018 parade was the high risk of road damage. According to a tweet by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a parade of that size would cause millions in damages, which was a significant factor in raising the cost estimate.

Bowser remains pragmatic about next month’s festivities. “If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied by many millions of dollars to repair the roads,” she said.

A demonstration to protest Trump, the same day, beginning their march in Meridian Park before heading toward the military parade route.

The festivities intend to tell the story of the U.S. Army, opening with the Revolutionary War and closing with what the modern-day military looks like. It has been more than 30 years since the troops last marched down the D.C. streets in 1991 for a parade that honored Gulf War service members.