Senate Democrats are demanding a full accounting of President Donald Trump's Freedom 250 organization, accusing the group of running a "pay-to-play" operation that showered corporate donors with lucrative federal contracts.
In a letter sent Sunday night to Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach, a group of senators led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Adam Schiff of California demanded the group disclose how much money it has collected from businesses and individuals, and whether donations bought special treatment from the federal government, reported MS NOW.
"The lack of transparency in these donations makes it difficult for the public to determine whether donors may have received any favors or special treatment in exchange for their donations," the senators wrote, asking directly whether the administration was "concealing potential pay-to-play politics or even outright bribery."
Freedom 250, billed by the White House as a "public-private partnership" organizing the nation's semiquincentennial celebrations, has effectively replaced the bipartisan, congressionally created America250 commission — but unlike its predecessor, it discloses neither its donors nor its spending.
The senators, including Alex Padilla of California and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, pointed to reporting that the group has raised more than $50 million from at least 21 corporate sponsors, several with business pending before the federal government.
United Airlines gave $2.5 million in March, four months before Trump announced a $22 billion Dulles Airport overhaul benefiting the carrier. RTX Corporation donated $1.5 million in May, months after Trump threatened to slash Pentagon contracts with its Raytheon subsidiary — which went on to win $2.9 billion in Navy contracts that summer. Chevron gave $5 million in May as the administration pressed the company over gas prices and its Venezuela operations. TikTok, not a listed sponsor, reportedly donated $2 million.
The senators called Freedom 250 "yet another slush fund for wealthy corporations and insiders to buy influence with the White House," noting its parent organization includes Trump campaign veterans such as fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke, reportedly nicknamed the "princess of darkness."
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle did not address the bribery allegations directly, saying only that Trump is "ensuring America gets the spectacular 250th birthday it deserves." TikTok and Freedom 250 did not respond to requests for comment, and a Chevron spokesperson said the company was "pleased to have supported" the celebrations.
The senators gave Krach until Sept. 27 to respond — a preview, they suggested, of subpoena-backed investigations that could follow if Democrats retake the Senate in November.