A fuel leak occurred on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall during a recent Freedom 250 event, in an incident the organization attributed to sabotage.
Freedom 250, the group President Donald Trump spearheaded to mark the United States’ 250th birthday throughout 2026, told the Washington Examiner that vandals targeted its equipment, triggering the fuel leak.
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“Following the Freedom 250 team’s installation of temporary lighting on the National Mall, our equipment has been repeatedly targeted by vandals,” Freedom 250 spokeswoman Rachel Reisner said on Tuesday. “The recent fuel leak was the direct result of that tampering.”
“Upon discovering damage to a generator fuel line, Freedom 250 and our vendors mobilized within minutes, coordinated an immediate cleanup response, and fully remediated the site in close partnership with the National Park Service,” she continued. “We take our responsibility as stewards of the National Mall seriously and are working closely with the appropriate law enforcement authorities regarding these acts of vandalism. We will not be deterred from delivering incredible events for all Americans as we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.”
Over 30 gallons of fuel from commercial generators Freedom 250 used at its May 17 “Rededicate 250” prayer rally, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended, seeped into underground cisterns that collect rainwater to irrigate the Mall, according to NBC News.
A U.S. official pushed back on the NBC report, saying the amount of fuel spilled appears to be much lower than first thought, and that the outlet published inaccurate information.
“An individual cut a fuel line to a light tower in an attempt to stop the great work being done to celebrate our nation’s 250th,” an Interior Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “This is unhinged behavior that will not be tolerated. To be crystal clear: We will not be stopped. This administration continues to revitalize the city at record speed. Our nation’s capital has never been this safe and beautiful, and it’s all thanks to President Donald J. Trump.”
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Construction is ongoing at the National Mall for a number of events Freedom 250 has planned to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial, including the 16-day “Great American State Fair,” which will showcase all 50 states and feature an 110-foot Ferris wheel, a free IndyCar race, and a UFC fight.
“As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of freedom and opportunity, the National Mall will once again serve as the stage for telling our nation’s story,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in April, as he reflected on the upcoming fair. “Thanks to President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, the Great American State Fair will bring all 56 states and territories together in one place, showcasing the people, landscapes, and traditions that define this country.”
