Which federal commission was created in 2016 to help organize America’s 250th anniversary?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was created in 2016 to help organize America’s 250th anniversary.

Congress established the commission through the United States Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016. Its purpose is to plan, encourage, and coordinate observances commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The commission is commonly associated with the public-facing America250 initiative.

The commission’s creation came four decades after the United States Bicentennial. The 1976 celebration used a large federal organizing structure and involved events, exhibitions, and commemorative projects across the country. The 2026 planning effort similarly emphasizes nationwide participation rather than a single ceremony.

Philadelphia has a particularly important place in the anniversary story because the Second Continental Congress met there and the Declaration of Independence was adopted there in 1776. However, the commission’s work is national in scope, reflecting the history and population of all 50 states and the wider American public.