Which organization began official planning for the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2016?

Official planning for the United States’ 250th anniversary began in 2016 with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission.

The commission is a congressional, nonpartisan organization associated with the public-facing America250 initiative. Its work was intended to coordinate national commemorations while supporting state, territorial, local, educational, and cultural participation.

The commission’s responsibilities included planning programs and encouraging projects that connected the anniversary with American history and civic life. Its work included initiatives such as America’s Field Trip, which invited students to reflect on what America means to them, and America Gives, a national volunteering effort.

The commission is distinct from the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, which was established later, in 2025. Because both bodies were involved in anniversary planning, their names and roles can be confused. America250 refers to the commission’s broader nonpartisan commemorative program.