Which federal commission was established in 2016 to plan the United States' 250th anniversary?

The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established in 2016 to plan the United States' 250th anniversary.

The commission is a congressional, nonpartisan organization created to coordinate national planning for the 2026 commemoration. Its work forms the institutional basis for America250, the public name used for many anniversary initiatives. The commission's purpose is broader than staging a single ceremony: it supports programs and partnerships intended to connect communities with the history of the United States.

Its creation came four decades after the 1976 Bicentennial, when the country celebrated its 200th anniversary with nationwide events, exhibitions, and educational programs. The 2026 observance similarly builds on a long tradition of marking major national milestones through public history and civic activities.

The commission should not be confused with the White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday, which was established later, in 2025. That task force is a separate federal body. The commission's 2016 establishment makes it the earlier congressional planning organization associated with America250.