Which federal commission was created in 2016 to plan the United States Semiquincentennial?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was created in 2016 to plan the nation’s 250th-anniversary observance.

Congress established the commission as a nonpartisan organization responsible for coordinating commemorative activities connected with the 2026 anniversary. Its work gave the celebration a national framework rather than leaving every state, city, museum, and civic group to plan independently.

The commission is widely associated with the America250 name and logo. Its responsibilities include encouraging public participation, supporting educational programs, and coordinating events that connect the anniversary with the history of the United States.

The commission should not be confused with the later White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, established in 2025. Those are separate federal bodies involved in anniversary planning. The commission itself dates to 2016, a decade before the anniversary year.