1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the ongoing shift in federal funding and messaging away from the bipartisan America250 commission toward the newly formed "Freedom 250" organization. As a constituent, I am deeply concerned by recent developments, regarding the taxpayer-funded "Rededicate 250" events held on the National Mall. When Congress established the bipartisan America250 commission in 2016, the clear intent was to plan a unified, inclusive celebration of the Declaration of Independence anchored in our founding Enlightenment values of equality, natural rights, and self-government. Instead, out of the $150 million appropriated for these celebrations, $100 million has been diverted to Freedom 250, turning a milestone national anniversary into an platform that promotes Christian nationalism and demands obedience to political leadership rather than active civic participation. The story of America is rooted in questioning authority and striving to build a more perfect union, not blindly obeying it. I urge you to exercise strict congressional oversight over how the Department of the Interior distributes these semi-quincentennial funds and demand that our national anniversary remain dedicated to the universal civic identity of "We the People."