Latest news with #ArmyParade
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Army leaders defend parade and border spending as Congress presses for answers
WASHINGTON — Army leaders on Wednesday defended spending as much as $45 million to add a parade to the service's 250th birthday celebration on June 14 in Washington, saying it will help boost recruitment, as Congress members argued that the money could be better spent on troops' barracks or other priorities. Members of the House Armed Services Committee also said they are concerned that the Defense Department is shifting about $1 billion from a variety of accounts — including base housing — to cover the costs of shoring up the defense of the southern border. Spending for the parade has become a flashpoint since it comes at a time when the Trump administration is slashing funding for personnel and programs across the federal government, including the Defense Department. While the Army has long planned for a festival on the National Mall to celebrate its 250th birthday, the parade was just recently added. President Donald Trump has long wanted a military parade in the city, after seeing an elaborate one in France on Bastille Day during his first presidential term, and June 14 is also his birthday. U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., questioned whether the additional cost of the parade was appropriate since all the military services are facing 8% budget cuts, and said perhaps it could be used to improve troops' quality of life or warfighting capabilities. He prodded Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll on what he would prioritize if Congress wrote him a blank check for $45 million. Driscoll replied that he thinks the parade offers a chance to tell the public about the Army. 'I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom and will fill up our pipeline for the coming years,' he said. At the same time, he and Gen. Randy George, chief of staff of the Army, told lawmakers that the service has now met its recruiting goal for the year — with 61,000 recruits. Army officials have predicted for months that they would hit the target early after making a series of changes to recruiting programs, recruiters and policies over the past several years. That prompted Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., to ask why the parade was needed for recruiting if it's already surging. Driscoll said the Army believes the parade 'will empower an entire new generation of America's youth to catch the spirit to serve their nation.' Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., defended the parade spending, saying 'you cannot put a price tag on patriotism.' House members on both sides of the aisle pressed the Army about a recent request to shift money from across the budget to support the southern border. The biggest concern, they said, is that it takes money away from base housing, which has been plagued with persistent problems, including mold, rodents and raw sewage in barracks. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., agreed the nation needs a strong border, but said lawmakers worked for the past year on a broad effort to address the housing problems. 'I feel like a decision was made that undermined this whole effort that we spent the last year doing.,' he said. Pressed on the issue by Carbajal, George acknowledged that redirecting the money has an impact on the barracks. 'If we took $1 billion out of barracks, we would be able to fix less barracks,' he agreed, but also said, ''You have to make choices, congressman.'
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Army leaders defend parade and border spending as Congress presses for answers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Army leaders on Wednesday defended spending as much as $45 million to add a parade to the service's 250th birthday celebration on June 14 in Washington, saying it will help boost recruitment, as Congress members argued that the money could be better spent on troops' barracks or other priorities. Members of the House Armed Services Committee also said they are concerned that the Defense Department is shifting about $1 billion from a variety of accounts — including base housing — to cover the costs of shoring up the defense of the southern border. Spending for the parade has become a flashpoint since it comes at a time when the Trump administration is slashing funding for personnel and programs across the federal government, including the Defense Department. While the Army has long planned for a festival on the National Mall to celebrate its 250th birthday, the parade was just recently added. President Donald Trump has long wanted a military parade in the city, after seeing an elaborate one in France on Bastille Day during his first presidential term, and June 14 is also his birthday. U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., questioned whether the additional cost of the parade was appropriate since all the military services are facing 8% budget cuts, and said perhaps it could be used to improve troops' quality of life or warfighting capabilities. He prodded Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll on what he would prioritize if Congress wrote him a blank check for $45 million. Driscoll replied that he thinks the parade offers a chance to tell the public about the Army. 'I believe very specifically that telling that story will directly lead to a recruiting boom and will fill up our pipeline for the coming years,' he said. At the same time, he and Gen. Randy George, chief of staff of the Army, told lawmakers that the service has now met its recruiting goal for the year — with 61,000 recruits. Army officials have predicted for months that they would hit the target early after making a series of changes to recruiting programs, recruiters and policies over the past several years. That prompted Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., to ask why the parade was needed for recruiting if it's already surging. Driscoll said the Army believes the parade 'will empower an entire new generation of America's youth to catch the spirit to serve their nation.' Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wisc., defended the parade spending, saying 'you cannot put a price tag on patriotism.' House members on both sides of the aisle pressed the Army about a recent request to shift money from across the budget to support the southern border. The biggest concern, they said, is that it takes money away from base housing, which has been plagued with persistent problems, including mold, rodents and raw sewage in barracks. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., agreed the nation needs a strong border, but said lawmakers worked for the past year on a broad effort to address the housing problems. 'I feel like a decision was made that undermined this whole effort that we spent the last year doing.,' he said. Pressed on the issue by Carbajal, George acknowledged that redirecting the money has an impact on the barracks. 'If we took $1 billion out of barracks, we would be able to fix less barracks,' he agreed, but also said, ''You have to make choices, congressman.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
White House Finally Spills on Trump's Lavish Military Parade
The U.S. Army's upcoming 250th birthday military parade is slated to be a jam-packed affair. The White House finally spilled on the event's itinerary in a press release Wednesday, revealing that it will take place on Constitution Ave in Washington D.C. between 15th and 23rd Street and last for three hours. The celebration, which also coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, is slated to run between 6:30 to 9:30 pm on June 14 with guest entry beginning at 2:00 pm. Tickets are now available through America250's website and will be distributed on a first come first served basis. 'The parade will trace the Army's evolution from the Revolutionary War through to the U.S. Army of Tomorrow,' the White House's statement read. 'Attendees will experience 250 years of Army heritage through historical U.S. Army personnel reenactors, period-accurate equipment, vehicles, impressive flyovers, and military bands participating in this landmark event.' Army officials disclosed further details to reporters at the Pentagon Wednesday, sharing that over 50 aircraft pieces, including military helicopters and historical planes like a B-25 bomber, are to take part in a planned flyover. Moreover, 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting vehicles, and 28 Strykers will also be included in the parade along with 4 Paladins, Axios, citing army spokesperson Steve Warren, reported. Trump is slated to deliver remarks during the event as well, which will also include a firework show. When asked if Trump's birthday would somehow be roped into the event, Warren told reporters: 'No plans. This has been the Army's birthday for [250] — we've had 249 previous of these.' Officials anticipate that at least 200,000 people will be attending, excluding the roughly 6,700 soldiers expected to participate in the parade, and have categorized the celebration as a 'national security special event.' The categorization is often designated to tentpole events like the Super Bowl. The Army expects to spend between $25 million to $45 million on their birthday plans, which will include a handful of other events like a festival preceding the parade at the National Mall. The president has long yearned for an extravagant military parade, previously pushing for one during his first administration in 2018. He ultimately canceled the event however after it was estimated to cost $92 million, according to the Associated Press.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
They love a parade: President Trump and US Army to celebrate their June 14 birthdays
WASHINGTON — The Army is planning a major parade at the urging of the White House on June 14 — the day the service shares a birthday with President Donald Trump, according to a U.S. official. Plans for the parade include 6,000 soldiers, helicopters, and armored vehicles, including Strykers, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and possibly Abrams M-1 tanks, said the official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The Army had been planning a major celebration for its 250th anniversary on June 14 when White House officials suggested a parade. Soldiers march in presidential inaugural events, but it's unclear if they have participated in a presidential birthday celebration. The official cautioned that plans for the parade remain tentative, but the event appears likely to happen. The Associated Press first reported the parade plans. It is likely to cost millions of dollars, and the parade route is planned to go through the heart of Washington, DC, along Constitution Avenue, the official said. During his first term, Trump appeared at the July 4 celebration in Washington. And the military supplied equipment, including Bradleys, at his request, as well as flyovers. He was criticized for politicizing the Independence Day event. There was also concern about damage caused to city streets by heavy armor, so the vehicles remained immobile, on display, so as not to chew up pavement. The Army is planning a number of other events to celebrate its anniversary apart from the parade. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Birthday bash: President Donald Trump and Army plan June 14 parade
Washington Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Army to place large metal plates on DC streets to protect them from tanks during June parade
WASHINGTON — The Army will place large metal plates at key points on the streets of Washington to better protect the pavement from the movements of 25 M1 Abrams main battle tanks set to roll through the capital on June 14, a U.S. official told the Associated Press. The tanks are a key part of a parade that will honor the Army's 250th birthday and fall on President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Since it was announced, the parade has grown in scope and participation, and one of the highlights will be columns of tanks rolling in formation along Constitution Avenue. Each Abrams tank can weigh 60 tons or more and carry a crew of four.
