The federal United States Semiquincentennial Commission, known as America250, was established in 2016.
Congress created the nonpartisan commission to plan and coordinate observances for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Its work concerns the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1776. The commission’s creation a decade before the anniversary allowed time for national programs, educational projects, commemorations, and partnerships with states and communities.
America250 is not the name of the anniversary itself; it is the branding and organizational identity associated with the federal celebration. The anniversary is formally called the United States Semiquincentennial. This distinction can cause confusion because both terms appear together in official announcements and public history materials.
The 2016 establishment date also connects the celebration to the 240th anniversary of independence rather than to the 250th anniversary itself. The milestone being planned is reached on July 4, 2026.