More than 7 million pounds of military equipment and nearly 7,000 soldiers are expected to move through the streets of Washington, D.C. on June 14, as the U.S. Army prepares for its largest military parade in decades-an event initiated by President Donald Trump as part of the Army's 250th anniversary celebration. The parade, which features dozens of tanks, artillery units, and combat vehicles, is projected to cost up to $45 million, according to Army and administration officials.
The Army began staging operations this week, moving tanks and vehicles by train from Fort Cavazos, Texas, to Jessup, Maryland. From there, they are being transferred to flatbed trucks for final delivery to staging areas near the National Mall. The event will also include over 50 military helicopters and a parachute jump by the Army's Golden Knights, who will present Trump with an American flag.
"Whatever TF is happening on June 14th this year is no patriotism," one online commenter wrote, echoing a wave of social media criticism. Others questioned the cost, calling it "wasteful spending" and evoking comparisons to authoritarian military displays. "Absurd that we're spending $25-$40 million on a Soviet-style military parade just because Trump really wanted one," another user said.
Despite public backlash, Army officials emphasized that extensive precautions are being taken to protect the city's infrastructure. Col. Jesse Curry, director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers, stated: "Our concern from an engineer technical evaluation on anything below the surface of the road that's going to be damaged is very, very low."
To minimize impact, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already spent over $3 million reinforcing roads with steel plates and track pads. The tanks will proceed at walking speed, and matting will be used at staging sites like West Potomac Park to protect the underlying surface. Curry said that if the Army "did nothing to mitigate" potential road damage, the estimated repair costs would have reached $16 million.
The parade route will begin at the Lincoln Memorial and run along Constitution Avenue to 15th Street and Independence Avenue. Spectators will see military hardware from every era of the Army's 250-year history, including:
- World War I: Dodge Staff car, Renault tank
- World War II: Sherman tanks, half-tracks, Willys jeeps
- Vietnam War: M151 jeeps, cargo trucks, M274 Mule
- Gulf War: Bradley fighting vehicles, Paladins, howitzers
- Modern Era: Abrams tanks, Strykers, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, M777 artillery
The extensive flyover will feature aircraft such as AH-64 Apaches, UH-60 Black Hawks, and CH-47 Chinooks. The Army has coordinated with multiple agencies-including the National Park Service, DC Water, and Pepco-to prevent disruption to gas and electric lines, which mostly run under sidewalks rather than the streets being used. "If we're driving on sidewalks, something went really wrong," Curry said.
