“America’s time capsule” has been officially sealed. What’s inside?
All 50 states have donated items to the “America’s Time Capsule,” which will be buried in Philadelphia on July 4 and opened 250 years later.
Two different organizations, America250 and Freedom 250, are planning events to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Each group has planned its own series of activities throughout the year to commemorate the nation’s 500th anniversary, but has faced several hurdles. America 250 claims it has not received all of the funding allocated to the organization by Congress. Freedom 250 had to remake the Great American State Fair, which was scheduled to take place on the National Mall, after most of the musicians left.
Both America250 and Freedom 250 aim to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But they vary depending on who runs them.
America 250 is a bipartisan organization created by Congress in 2016 to lead the commemoration, and Freedom 250 is a quasi-governmental organization created by President Donald Trump. Other organizations also hold events across the United States.
Here is a breakdown of the activities carried out by each organization.
What is the difference between America 250 and Freedom 250?
By law, in 2016, Congress created the American Semicentennial Commission to “plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate” the commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
The commission is supported by the nonprofit America250.org, Inc., which includes private citizens and works with lawmakers throughout the plan, according to its website.
The recently established Freedom 250 is run by the Trump administration. In January 2025, President Trump formed a group of Cabinet members, Task Force 250, to plan events other than those run by the official America 250 Committee. Freedom 250 is a division of Task Force 250, a “public-private partnership,” according to the White House.
After President Trump announced the launch of Freedom 250 in December 2025, America 250 Board President Rosie Rios told USA TODAY that the group supports the president’s plan.
What kind of events are America250 and Freedom 250 planning?
Highlights of America250’s planned projects include promoting field trip competitions for students, philanthropy, and record-setting volunteer work. Additionally, the group plans to bury a time capsule in Philadelphia on July 4th and open it on America’s 500th birthday in 2276.
America250 also recently announced that America’s Block Party concert will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on July 4th, featuring Chris Stapleton and the Smashing Pumpkins and hosted by Queen Latifah.
To find a local event near you, check out the America250 website.
As part of the president’s plans, Freedom 250 held a Trump-sponsored Ultimate Fighting Championship event on June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House.
Last month, he also held a prayer event called “Rededicate 250” on the National Mall.
August will host the Patriot Games, an athletic competition for high school students, and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, a free IndyCar event scheduled for August 22-23.
President Trump’s “Freedom 250” was also planned to be a 16-day concert event, but came under criticism from several artists who were announced as performers and later withdrew.
What happened to the Freedom 250 at the Great American State Fair?
After the performer lineup for the 16-day Great American State Fair was announced on May 27, a number of artists, including The Commodores, Young MC, and Bret Michaels, dropped out of the event, some citing perceived political endorsements of the event and confusion over the content of their applications.
Country musician Martina McBride wrote to X that she was misled into thinking she would be performing at a “nonpartisan event.”
“I have had the opportunity to be a voice for those who felt they had no voice. I am deeply upset that my fans, who have been touched by my music, feel like I am abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you that is not the case,” she wrote.
Bret Michaels said his exit was due to the “divisive” nature of the event.
“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,” he said in an Instagram post.
In response, President Trump criticized the musicians on May 30, announcing in a post on Truth Social that he planned to hold a rally in their place called the “AMERICA IS BACK Rally,” with him as the headliner.
The Great American State Fair also hosts rodeo events.
More controversy regarding the Freedom 250
Freedom 250 has been the focus of other controversies over funding transparency and religious representation.
The New York Times reported in February that Freedom 250 was suspected of trading access to Trump for donations, sparking concerns among Congressional Democrats.
Some historians and religious experts have also raised alarm over the Trump administration’s almost exclusive emphasis on Christianity through several Freedom 250 initiatives, including prayer meetings.
Freedom 250 spokeswoman Rachel Reissner said in a May 28 statement to USA TODAY that the organization is “dedicated to uniting Americans in commemoration of our nation’s 250th anniversary.”
“Freedom 250 focuses on our signature celebrations and events that celebrate our history and engage all Americans, and we welcome all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America,” added Reisner.
Meanwhile, America 250 has told Congress it is suffering from a $100 million “funding gap” and has only received $25 million of the $100 million Congress had planned, the news site NOTUS reported on June 1.
Contributors: Melina Kahn, Saman Shafiq, Carissa Wadick
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
