The United States Semiquincentennial Commission, the federal America250 planning body, was established in 2016.
Congress created the commission to plan and coordinate observances for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Its work involves federal agencies, state and territory commissions, nonprofit organizations, museums, educational institutions, and local communities.
The commission is bipartisan and nonpartisan in purpose. It is distinct from the America250 Foundation, a private nonprofit partner that supports programs and services connected with the commemoration. The commission also differs from later White House organizations created to coordinate federal celebrations.
Planning began a decade before the anniversary itself. That long lead time reflects the scale of the event: the commemoration spans all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories, and communities with different historical connections to the founding era. The America250 name became the most visible public-facing brand for the nationwide effort.