The U.S. military parade set for Saturday, June 14, in Washington, D.C., appears to be receiving financial backing from some of the nation’s leading tech companies. Controversy over the parade has led to questions from critics about who’s backing it.
Championed by President Donald Trump, the “grand military parade” will celebrate the U.S. Army’s founding 250 years ago. The event, estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million, also coincides with Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday.
Big tech funding
On Monday, June 9, the America250 Foundation, the nonprofit organizing and funding the events leading up to the nation’s semiquincentennial next year, released a statement. In it, officials praised companies such as Amazon, Coinbase and Palantir for their sponsorship.
“Many of these sponsors will support the upcoming grand military parade being held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 14, to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday,” the press release said. “As momentum builds to the 250th anniversary, these sponsors will bring essential resources, ideas, and expertise to engage all Americans in this historic milestone in the year to come.”
The list also includes other prominent companies, such as Oracle and Lockheed Martin. Although America250 previously listed Meta as a sponsor, the organization removed the company’s name from its website after The Verge inquired about Meta’s involvement during the week of June 9.
A Meta spokesperson told The Verge that it does not currently sponsor America250.
“While we are not currently a sponsor, we have had a historical relationship with America250, and we are actively exploring potential partnership opportunities with them in the future,” the spokesperson said.
Many of the companies reportedly backing American250 have not publicly commented on the alleged relationship. Coinbase, however, announced during the 2025 Bitcoin Conference that it would be partnering with the organization.
Outside of the tech sector, major companies such as Coca-Cola, FedEx, the UFC, and Walmart, as well as automakers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, are designated as America250 sponsors.
Public opinion
It remains unclear which company funds will go toward the parade as opposed to other events planned by America250.
The military parade, according to NPR, will feature 50 aircraft, 150 military vehicles, 6,000 soldiers, 34 horses, two mules and one canine. As reported by Straight Arrow News, a majority of Americans, as detailed in the results of a poll from The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, don’t believe the parade is worth the cost to taxpayers.
