Donald & Melania Trump at Salute To America celebration
Senate Democrats are demanding the Government Accountability Office (GAO) launch an inquiry into the costs of President Donald Trump‘s Fourth of July event in Washington, D.C. and into whether or not it adhered to legal restrictions.
Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) wrote a letter to GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro stating they are “concerned by the impacts and the precedent of diverting limited Federal resources” for the Independence Day celebration.
“Further, we are troubled by reports that preferential access to the National Mall was organized by political entities such as the Republican National Committee, which furthers the appearance that taxpayer funds were used to accomplish political objectives,” the trio of lawmakers said in the letter.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
The National Park Service had redirected $2.5 million from its total budget in order to pay for the “Salute to America” celebration at the National Mall in Washington, which featured a military parade, fireworks and a long address from Trump. The newspaper also estimated that the military flyovers held at the event could ultimately cost more than $2 million, and cited a Pentagon official who said at least half of that sum would be incurred by the military.
After the event was held, Trump angrily blasted the liberal media on Twitter for not reporting on what he viewed as a large crowd of attendees at the celebration.
SLIDESHOW: TOP DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020
President Donald Trump addressed speculation about his comments to Chief Justice John Roberts after he…
https://youtu.be/w9WkLlHhn_w Elon Musk visited Department of Defense officials at the Pentagon on Friday. Leaked information…
In late January, President Donald Trump announced a plan that would detain tens of thousands…
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called on President Donald Trump to pardon ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek…
In a campaign-style speech at the Department of Justice on Friday, President Donald Trump outlined his vision…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aWpTcpG89L4 President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education…