Congress established the United States Semiquincentennial Commission in 2016.
The commission was created to plan and coordinate the 250th anniversary of American independence, commemorated nationally in 2026. Its legal foundation was the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act, signed during Barack Obama’s presidency.
The commission was designed as a bipartisan congressional body rather than a private historical society. Its responsibilities included coordinating anniversary programs, encouraging participation across the country, and overseeing commemorative projects such as coins, stamps, and major public events.
Planning began well before the anniversary year. The commission’s members were sworn in at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in November 2018, giving the organization eight years to prepare for the national celebration. A 2020 amendment later changed the commission’s membership structure and funding provisions.