The U.S. Army confirmed Friday that it will hold a large-scale military parade on June 14 to mark its 250th anniversary — a date that also happens to be former President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The announcement follows recent internal planning and marks a significant expansion of what had previously been a more modest celebration.
The parade is expected to feature approximately 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, and 50 helicopters, traveling from Arlington, Virginia, to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. While the Army’s original birthday festival plans did not include a major parade, discussions to incorporate one began less than two months ago, reportedly following interest from Trump, who has long advocated for such an event.
Army spokesperson Steve Warren said the day’s events will include “a spectacular fireworks display, a parade, and a daylong festival on the National Mall.” The parade, while now formally approved, has no official cost estimate yet, but officials anticipate it will cost tens of millions of dollars.
The event comes amid major government restructuring led by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, which has overseen widespread cuts to federal agencies. Thousands of federal employees, including Defense Department civilians, have been laid off as part of the effort to shrink government operations.
White House officials confirmed to media outlets that the parade would be part of the broader celebrations not only for the Army’s 250th anniversary but also as the kickoff to a yearlong commemoration of America’s upcoming 250th national anniversary in 2026.
Army planning documents dated late April indicate the parade will include soldiers from at least 11 Army corps and divisions. Participating units are expected to include a Stryker battalion, tank battalion, and infantry battalion equipped with Bradleys, Howitzers, and Paladin artillery. Heavy vehicles will not cross the bridge from Virginia; instead, they will join the parade closer to the Lincoln Memorial, addressing concerns about infrastructure damage.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed earlier that city officials had been contacted about the parade. She voiced concerns about tanks damaging the city’s roads, suggesting their use should come with funding for repairs.
The Army’s 250th anniversary festival has been in development for over a year and will include military demonstrations, equipment displays, live music, and a fitness competition on the National Mall. The parade is scheduled for the late afternoon and will be followed by a parachute jump from the Golden Knights, a concert, and a fireworks show.
Civilians will also take part in the event, including participants with vintage military vehicles and aircraft, bands, veteran groups, military academies, and reenactors.
According to planning documents, the parade is expected to be classified as a national special security event, pending approval by the relevant authorities.
Trump has long pushed for a military parade in Washington. After attending a Bastille Day parade in Paris in 2017, he said he wanted a similar event in the U.S. However, plans for a grand parade during his first term were eventually scrapped due to high costs — one estimate exceeded $90 million — and pushback from city officials over potential damage caused by heavy military vehicles.
At the time, Trump canceled the plan and accused local officials of inflating the cost.
