When President Trump announced his “Salute to America” event, many in DC were wondering what the associated cost would be. Now that the numbers have been crunched, it seems that the colorful Trump July 4th parade may leave residents footing a hefty bill.
On Tuesday, a letter from Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to President Trump addressed some alarming facts regarding the budget for Fiscal Year 2021. Bowser is requesting that the District be reimbursed for providing public safety for the Independence Day event so that DC residents aren’t impacted by the cost of Trump’s July 4th parade.
The True Cost of Trump’s July 4th Parade
The correspondence comes just five days after the rainy “Salute to America” celebration set the District back $1.7 million. The patriotic July 4th parade featured fireworks, helicopters, military tanks, fighter jet flyovers, a speech from Trump, and a great deal of security.
“As we continue to gather estimates for the next Inauguration, we ask for your help with ensuring the residents of the District of Columbia are not asked to cover millions of dollars of federal expenses…” Bowser wrote.
According to Bowser, the expenses related to Trump’s July 4th parade exhausted a DC-specific fund known as the Emergency Planning and Security (ESPF) Fund.
Bowser states that the expenses related to Trump’s July 4th parade exhausted a DC-specific fund known as the Emergency Planning and Security (ESPF) Fund.
This fund is allocated for increased security and anti-terrorism measures vital during large events such as state funerals, protests, inaugurations, and visits by foreign dignitaries.
The Security Deficit for DC’s ‘Salute to America’
The federally funded ESPF is expected to be in the red by roughly $6 million before the end of 2019. This extreme deficit is attributed to multiple factors. Around $13 million is allotted each year to this fund when the actual spending is significantly more. A large portion of the budget was whisked away by a $7.3 million contribution to the security of the 2017 inauguration.
“It is critical that the EPSF is fully reimbursed for these funds to ensure the District can uphold proper security and support during the remainder of the fiscal year without incurring a deficit for federal activities,” Bowser urged.
Despite a copious amount of criticism regarding the cost, content, and climate of the Trump July 4th parade, President Trump has deemed the event a success.
“I hope you all had a truly wonderful Independence Day weekend. In spite of the heavy rain — and it was really heavy — we had a remarkable Salute to America on the National Mall. It was incredible, actually,” said Trump at a White House event.
With tentative plans to repeat the event next year, it remains unclear exactly who will bear the financial burden.