唐纳德·特朗普总统大力宣传多家企业向“自由250”项目提供的资金支持。该项目属于公私合作项目，旨在庆祝美国建国250周年。然而，一个监督机构于周四公布的文件显示，今年夏天的庆祝活动实际上主要由纳税人出资支持，这引发了人们对数千万美元私人捐款去向的质疑。
President Donald Trump touted a tranche of corporate funding for Freedom 250’s private-public partnership to celebrate the semiquincentennial of the nation’s founding. But records obtained and released Thursday by a watchdog group show that taxpayers apparently were who largely supported this summer’s celebrations — raising questions about where tens of millions in private donations ended up.
尽管民主党议员们不断施压，指责部分企业赞助商与联邦政府存在利益交换行为，但特朗普政府至今仍未公布这些私人捐助方的身份、捐款数额以及数千万美元资金的具体用途。
The Trump administration also has yet to disclose the private sector benefactors themselves, the donation amounts or how tens of millions in funds were spent, despite facing mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers who allege that some corporate sponsors engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with the federal government.
“公共雇员环保责任组织”（PEER）是一个致力于调查政府雇员举报的环境违规行为的无党派机构。该组织于周四公布了有关此次庆祝活动合同协议及预算核算的详细文件。
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a nonpartisan group that investigates claims from government employees about environmental misconduct, on Thursday released documents detailing contract agreements and budget calculations for the events.
美国国家公园基金会作为国家公园管理局下属的官方慈善机构，负责协助组织“自由250”系列活动。
The official National Park Service charity, the National Park Foundation, helped run the Freedom 250 events.
据PEER获得的预算估算数据，包括“美国大州博览会”、“爱国者运动会”以及国家广场上的独立日庆典在内的各项活动，预计总成本约为1.28亿美元。其中1亿美元预计由国会拨款提供，另有1400万美元为专门用于“流动博物馆”项目的联邦拨款——该项目通过名为“自由卡车”的运输工具，向全国各地传播有关美国独立历程的相关信息。
Its budget estimate, obtained by PEER, showed the events — including the Great American State Fair, the Patriot Games and the Independence Day Celebration at the National Mall — should have cost around $128 million, funded by an expected $100 million from Congress and $14 million in federal grant money specifically for the Mobile Museum, which sent “Freedom Trucks” carrying a curated story of American independence across the country.
《华尔街日报》今年8月曾报道称，“自由250”项目共筹集到超过5000万美元的私人资金，并计划于2026年春季邀请捐助方参加在白宫举办的酒会。根据非营利性政治新闻机构Sludge今年7月查阅到的游说活动记录，雪佛龙、联合航空以及国防企业RTX等公司均向“自由250”有限责任公司捐赠了数百万美元。
The Wall Street Journal reported in August that Freedom 250 raised more than $50 million in private funds and invited donors to a wine reception at the White House in spring 2026. Companies like Chevron, United Airlines and defense conglomerate RTX gave up to several million dollars each to Freedom 250 LLC, based on lobbying disclosures reviewed in July by the nonprofit news organization Sludge, which covers money in politics.
预计联邦政府提供的资金总额仅为1.14亿美元，而各项开支合计却高达1.28亿美元。因此，NPF在预算表底部注明，资金缺口约为1400万美元。
With only $114 million total in expected federal dollars but $128 million in aggregate costs, NPF listed a funding gap of around $14 million at the bottom of the budget chart.
该预算估算表中似乎也未列出用于各项庆典活动的5000万美元私人捐款数额。
The estimate also did not appear to list any of the $50 million in private donations towards any of the events and celebrations.
今年7月，内政部向国会申请追加1000万美元资金，用于“支付与庆祝美国建国250周年相关活动的开支”，不过议员们并未批准或拨付这笔款项。
Congress received a request from the Interior Department for an additional $10 million in July “to recoup costs associated with support of events celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial,” — though lawmakers did not approve or disburse those additional funds.
“‘自由250’深感自豪，因为我们通过一系列令人难忘的特色活动、全国性倡议及项目——从‘自由卡车’巡游、7月4日庆典到2026年的‘爱国者运动会’——将全美民众团结在一起，以此颂扬我们的国家并激励下一代。”‘自由250’的一位发言人在电子邮件声明中说道。白宫方面未对置评请求作出回应。
“Freedom 250 is proud to have united Americans through unforgettable signature events, nationwide initiatives and projects — from the Freedom Trucks and July 4 celebrations to the 2026 Patriot Games — that celebrate our country and inspire the next generation,” a Freedom 250 spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
据熟悉‘自由250’活动筹备情况的人士向《华盛顿太阳报》透露，活动主办方仍在核算各项开支，而PEER提供的文件“并不能反映实际情况”。十年前由国会设立的官方机构‘America250’负责250周年庆典的统筹工作，该机构称自己仅获得了预期1000万美元联邦拨款中的2500万美元。
Sources familiar with planning Freedom 250’s events told The Washington Sun that organizers are still reconciling the event costs and PEER’s documents don’t “represent reality.”America250, a separate organization established by Congress a decade ago as the official group responsible for planning for the semiquincentennial, reported that it received $25 million of the $100 million the group expected to get in federal funding.
PEER的文件还显示，NPF已正式请求国家公园管理局允许其跳过常规的联邦合同竞标流程，直接承接与250周年庆典相关的项目。
The NPF formally asked NPS to allow it to bypass the traditional competitive bidding process for awarding federal contracts for 250th anniversary-related celebrations, PEER’s documents reveal.
“鉴于美国建国250周年这一不可更改的全国性里程碑日期，以及联邦场地安排与安全协调方面的具体时间表，我们已没有时间开展全面且公开的竞标程序，”NPF执行副总裁兼治理事务主管露丝·埃尔南德斯·普雷斯科特在2025年11月致国家公园管理局代理局长的信中写道。
“Due to the immovable national deadlines associated with the 250th anniversary and specific production schedules tied to federal venues and security coordination, time does not permit a full and open competition,” Ruth Hernandez Prescott, NPF’s executive vice president and chief governance officer, wrote in a November 2025 letter addressed to NPS’ acting director.
普雷斯科特补充道：“白宫已要求聘请具备相应资质、能力过硬且拥有安全许可的特定承包商，来负责纪念活动各项关键环节的实施工作。”
Prescott added that the “White House has requested engagement of specific qualified contractors with demonstrated capability and security clearances to deliver key components of the commemorative events.”
国家公园管理局批准了其官方慈善机构提出的豁免竞争性招标程序的申请，理由是时间紧迫，且担心招标过程可能引发不必要的延误。
NPS granted its official charity arm’s request for a waiver to skip the competitive bidding process, citing a timeline concerns and a potential “delay that would be caused by competition.”