Pres. Trump's Fourth of July celebration cost the federal government and Washington, D.C., $5.35 million, according to an Interior Department letter released exclusively to ABC News.
President Donald Trump's Fourth of July celebration last week cost the federal government and Washington, D.C., $5.35 million, according to an Interior Department letter released exclusively to ABC News.
National Park Service Deputy Director Dan Smith, who is serving in the director capacity, said the spending was worth it for the exposure it generated for the National Park Service and educational value of an event focused on American history and the contributions of military service members and families.
The total cost of Salute to America does not include the $750,000 value of donated fireworks or the cost of military flyovers, which the Pentagon said came out of the individual military service's training budgets. It also does not include the cost of the Capitol Fourth concert, which is part of a concert series that is included in the National Park Service budget every year. The concert this year cost about $3.8 million, a small increase from previous years.
About 117 locations in the National Park Service generate money from entrance and recreation fees. The largest and most popular parks keep 80% of that money to pay for improvements and visitor services in the park, sending the remaining 20% into a fund for other parks to pull from. Democrats and advocacy groups decried the additional costs for the event, saying the National Park Service is already underfunded and can't afford to redirect money needed to address a nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog.
"Secretary Bernhardt says fee revenue has been used in the past to celebrate President Lincoln, the anniversary of March on Washington, and the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service. This time, visitor fee revenue was diverted to celebrate President Trump. Does the secretary really not see the difference?” the statement added.
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