Freedom 250 group has been reportedly soliciting high-dollar donations in exchange for preferential access to President Trump and official government events held for America’s 250th birthday.
February 15, 2026 - Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and six Senate colleagues are demanding information about Freedom 250, a new private entity reportedly soliciting large private donations while offering donors exclusive access and other benefits tied to President Donald Trump and events planned for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the Senators demand the White House produce a list of donors who have given to Freedom 250, who public reports say were promised benefits including access to White House “VIP” events and ceremonial roles in the semiquincentennial. The Senator’s inquiry also seeks an explanation as to how the group is involved in planning the anniversary events and what ethical guidance the group received from the Office of Government Ethics or White House ethics officials.
“It is imperative that Congress and the public understand how decisions are made, who exercises control, and what guardrails exist to prevent inappropriate donor influence. Absent clear rules, this structure risks blurring the line between legitimate civic fundraising and pay‑for‑play access tied to official government functions, an all too familiar feature of the current Administration,” the Senators wrote.
The Senators raise concern that the arrangement between the federal government and Freedom 250 could violate federal bribery, conflict of interest, and ethics laws.
The Senators emphasized the importance of their probe by highlighting the administration’s poor record of preserving the public trust when it comes to preferential access to donors, as recently illustrated by solicitation of private donations by the same Trump-allied fundraiser for the White House ballroom construction project.
“These circumstances warrant careful scrutiny to ensure that preparations for the nation’s semiquincentennial remain nonpartisan, transparent, and focused on the public interest. Furthermore, these concerns echo previously raised inquiries – which remain unanswered – regarding the financing of President Trump’s White House ballroom construction project, which includes private donations from individuals and corporations whose business interests are directly impacted by the Administration and its decisions,” the Senators wrote.
Schiff led a similar inquiry into the financing of the White House ballroom construction in October, raising concerns about influence donors could exert on the Executive Branch in exchange for donations to support the reportedly $400 million price tag.
Joining Schiff in demanding answers on Freedom 250 are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Ms. Wiles:
We write seeking clarity regarding the funding, governance, and role of Freedom 250, a private entity planning and promoting events associated with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Recent reporting indicates that Freedom 250 is soliciting large private donations while offering donors exclusive access and other benefits tied to the President. These reports raise serious questions about transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and whether access to the Administration’s official or quasi‑official activities is being conditioned on or provided in exchange for financial contributions.
According to public accounts, Freedom 250 appears to operate alongside, and in some cases overlap with, America250, the congressionally authorized commission established by the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 to plan a nonpartisan, civic‑focused commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. To the extent Freedom 250 is shaping major anniversary programming or coordinating with the White House and federal agencies, it is imperative that Congress and the public understand how decisions are made, who exercises control, and what guardrails exist to prevent inappropriate donor influence. Absent clear rules, this structure risks blurring the line between legitimate civic fundraising and pay‑for‑play access tied to official government functions, an all too familiar feature of the current Administration.
We are particularly concerned by the solicitation for sponsorship packages circulated to potential Freedom 250 donors promising supporters who give $1 million or more preferential access to the President and high-profile events held at or in connection with official government venues. Linking private contributions – explicitly or implicitly – to invitations to White House events, photo ops, ceremonial roles, or other forms of access unavailable to the general public, raises serious concerns about the auctioning of government activities. Furthermore, these arrangements may implicate federal bribery, conflict of interest, or ethics statutes and will be subject to close scrutiny.
These concerns are heightened where events are sponsored, hosted, or facilitated by the White House or federal agencies, yet appear to serve President Trump’s political agenda and allies while presenting opportunities for donor recognition that resemble political fundraising activity. Government-sponsored civic commemorations should not serve as platforms for political messaging or partisan activity, nor should they create opportunities for donors to exert influence with federal decision-makers under the guise of patriotic celebration. Moreover, the use of a private entity to raise funds for activities closely associated with the presidency risks circumventing transparency, disclosure, and guardrails that ordinarily apply to campaign fundraising or official government operations.
Taken together, these circumstances warrant careful scrutiny to ensure that preparations for the nation’s semiquincentennial remain nonpartisan, transparent, and focused on the public interest. Furthermore, these concerns echo previously raised inquiries – which remain unanswered – regarding the financing of President Trump’s White House ballroom construction project, which includes private donations from individuals and corporations whose business interests are directly impacted by the Administration and its decisions. It is also alarming that Meredith O’Rourke – identified as a lead fundraiser coordinating private donations for both the White House ballroom project and Freedom 250 – appears to be centrally involved in soliciting high‑value contributions tied to access to the Office of the President and President Trump himself in both efforts.
In order to carry out our oversight responsibilities and provide transparency to the American public, we request the following information by February 20, 2026:
- Provide a complete list of all individual and corporate donors who have contributed to Freedom 250 to date, including the amount and date of each contribution.
- Describe any benefits, access, recognition, or other consideration donors have received or been promised in connection with their contributions.
- Describe Freedom 250’s governance structure, including its leadership, board members, and any formal or informal role played by White House officials or federal agencies in its operations or decision‑making.
- Describe Meredith O’Rourke’s specific role in facilitating fundraising efforts for both the White House ballroom project and Freedom 250.
- Explain how Freedom 250 coordinates with America250, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, or other federally authorized entities, including whether funds, programming responsibilities, or branding are shared.
- Describe any ethics guidance sought or received by the White House regarding Freedom 250’s fundraising practices, donor access, or relationship to official government activities.
- Provide any records of communication between the White House and/or Freedom 250 leadership and the Office of Government Ethics or White House designated agency officials.
We look forward to your response and to ensuring that preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary reflect transparency, integrity, and service to the public interest.
Source: Senator Adam Schiff
