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Jun 26, 2025  |  
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Emily Hallas


NextImg:Bowser worried about military parade causing millions in road damages

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concern over the possible damage to roadways that the Army parade could cause.

The mayor is worried that local taxpayers could initially bear the brunt of the anticipated costs, up to $16 million according to an NBC News report, if there is a delay in reimbursements from the Defense Department.

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“I remain concerned about it,” the mayor said during a Thursday press conference. “These are, for the most part, local streets, and if they’re rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds, or maybe the Army Corps of Engineers would fix it. But, probably, we would fix it and then go seek our money from the feds. So that gives me some concern about fronting costs and waiting for them to get back.”

The $16 million has been factored into the total budget of $25 million to $45 million, officials told the outlet.

Pentagon officials have downplayed impacts on local streets and sought to reassure local leaders that the district will be reimbursed for any damages. Col. Jesse Curry, director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, recently told Stars and Stripes that it is “not expecting any damage to the route,” while Army spokesman Steve Warren pledged that the military would cover any damage.

The June 14 parade falls on Flag Day and will close a week of celebrations observing the Army’s 250th birthday. President Donald Trump, who is set to speak at the event, pressed officials to host the massive military parade, which will coincide with his 79th birthday. He has defended the high price tag, saying the parade’s expenses are “peanuts compared to the value of doing it” during a Meet the Press interview last month.

Thousands of soldiers, dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, horses, and at least eight bands are set to parade the streets during the upcoming event.

Thick metal plates will be placed over turns on the tanks’ parade route to help protect the district’s roads from the wear of heavy machinery. Military vehicles, including dozens of Abrams tanks, M1A1 tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Stryker armored fighting vehicles, and artillery launchers being towed, will roll the streets of downtown Washington on a route that will stretch for nearly 4 miles from the Pentagon to the White House.

Historic WWII-era B-52 bombers and at least 50 helicopters will fly overhead during the military parade, which will also feature a parachute demonstration by Army parachutists known as the Golden Knights. The event is scheduled to end with a fireworks display at dusk.

President Donald Trump, left, departs with U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland after speaking to United States Military Academy graduating cadets during commencement ceremonies in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 24, 2025.
President Donald Trump, left, departs with U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland after speaking to United States Military Academy graduating cadets during commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in West Point, New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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“We have the greatest army tanks in the world,” Trump said in May. “We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we’re going to celebrate it.”

The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House and the Army for comment but did not receive a response.