Sen. Schiff leads probe into Freedom250, the America birthday group offering access to Trump for donations

The Democratic senators raise concern about alleged "pay-to-play" access.

Sen. Adam Schiff of California and a group of fellow Democrats are launching a probe into Freedom 250, a new non-profit group closely aligned with President Donald Trump that is raising private funding for high-profile events surrounding America's 250th birthday this summer.

Freedom 250 -- a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Park Foundation, the congressionally chartered fundraising arm of the National Park Service -- was announced by the White House X account in December 2025, as an alternative for the congressionally chartered "America250" commission that is planned to celebrate the nation's birthday this year.

The New York Times is reporting on allegations that the Freedom250 group is exchanging access to Trump for donations, and concerns have been raised in Congress about the arrangement between the group's donations and their political fundraising.

Schiff's inquiry, first shared with ABC News, raises concerns about the large sums of private donations and alleged "pay-to-play" access implications involved in the Freedom 250 effort.

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By:  Isabella Murray
Source: ABC News

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