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EO 14189Executive OrderTrump 47 · R

Executive Order 14189

Celebrating America's 250th Birthday

This executive order establishes a White House task force to plan the 250th anniversary celebration of American Independence on July 4, 2026, housed in the Department of Defense. It also reinstates prior Trump-era executive orders creating the National Garden of American Heroes and protecting monuments from vandalism, reversing their revocation by EO 14029 from the Biden administration.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8849

Impact dates

  1. Task Force 250 termination unless extended

  2. 47d ago

    250th anniversary of American Independence celebration

  3. Agency reports on celebration planning due to Task Force 250

Key directives

  • Establish White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday (Task Force 250)
  • President serves as Chair, Vice President as Vice Chair
  • DOD to provide funding and administrative support for Task Force 250
  • Agencies submit planning reports by March 1, 2025
  • Reinstate EO 13934 (Building and Rebuilding Monuments to American Heroes)
  • Reinstate EO 13978 (Building the National Garden of American Heroes)
  • Amend EO 13934 Section 3(c)(ii) to replace deadline with 'as expeditiously as possible'
  • Recommend additional heroes to reach total of 250 for National Garden
  • Reinstate EO 13933 (Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues)
  • Task Force 250 terminates December 31, 2026 unless extended

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Task Force 250 established with President as Chair
  • EOs 13934, 13978, and 13933 reinstated
  • DOD designated to house and support Task Force 250

Near term (90d)

  • Agency reports on celebration planning due March 1, 2025
  • Assistant to President for Domestic Policy to recommend 250 heroes for National Garden

Long term

  • 250th anniversary celebration on July 4, 2026
  • Task Force terminates December 31, 2026
  • National Garden of American Heroes to proceed 'as expeditiously as possible'

Risks & tensions

  • Reinstatement of monument protection EO 13933 may intensify enforcement actions against protesters; cites specific pro-Hamas-related vandalism incidents as justification
  • Housing task force in DOD rather than domestic policy office may blur civil-military boundaries for event planning
  • Removal of specific July 4, 2026 deadline for National Garden creates open-ended timeline with uncertain funding commitment
  • Reversal of prior administration's monument policy (EO 14029) continues pattern of partisan oscillation in heritage preservation
  • Subject to availability of appropriations creates execution risk for ambitious celebration plans
Executive Order 14189: Celebrating America's 250th Birthday · Executive Orders