Allies of President Donald Trump are reportedly planning a record-breaking fireworks display on the National Mall to celebrate the country's 250th birthday on the Fourth of July. The move has pushed federal officials to place Washington, D.C., under the highest level of security for the event, Axios reported.
Record-Breaking Ambitions
The White House-backed initiative Freedom 250, a public-private partnership established in December to mark the historic anniversary, aims to surpass the current Guinness World Record for the largest fireworks show, according to a statement provided to the outlet. "This will culminate in a breathtaking fireworks finale that will shatter world records and stand as the most spectacular firework display the world has ever seen," Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner said in the statement. To break the record, which was set in the Philippines in 2016, organizers will need to detonate more than 810,000 fireworks over a period expected to last more than 30 minutes.
Scale and Comparison
By comparison, a standard Independence Day show on the National Mall typically lasts between 17 and 20 minutes and uses roughly 10,000 to 20,000 shells. The Department of the Interior previously noted on social media that this year's display was expected to be "nearly 20 times larger than a typical year." The presentation is being handled by Pyrotecnico, a Pennsylvania-based pyrotechnics company. Jodi Dague, the company's marketing director, told the Washington Post via email that they were shooting to break the record, calling the upcoming event a "blowout for sure."
Security and Costs
It is still unknown what the total cost of the event's production will be or whether taxpayer funds will be used. Due to the scale of the event, the Department of Homeland Security has designated this year's celebration a National Special Security Event. The designation, which is usually reserved for high-risk events like presidential inaugurations and State of the Union addresses, grants the Secret Service lead authority over security operations and brings a significant influx of federal law enforcement personnel to the capital. "The decision is based, in part, on the event's significance, size and attendees," a Secret Service spokesperson told The Post. "Designating an event an NSSE allows for considerable resources from the federal government, as well as vital assistance from state and local partners, to be used to force multiply all available security resources."
Heightened Security Measures
The heightened security measures follow a period of pressure for local law enforcement. District and federal officials held a multi-hour meeting last week to coordinate safety measures following recent turmoil within the Metropolitan Police Department, where 13 officials were recently placed on leave amid allegations of data manipulation. Beyond the fireworks, the July 4 schedule includes the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, as well as scheduled speeches, military flyovers and live performances. The celebration is one of several large-scale events scheduled for the capital, including a UFC fight on the White House lawn next month.
