Norton Blasts Politicizing D.C.’s Fourth of July, RNC and Political Appointees Giving Out Tickets

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement today following reports that the National Park Service is diverting $2.5 million in park improvement funds to pay for President Trump's Fourth of July celebration, in addition to having the RNC hand out tickets.

"Just as I predicted, President Trump has turned a nonpartisan national holiday that unites all Americans into a partisan political rally financed by American taxpayers. Yet again this administration has erased the wall between public service and political campaigns. Rules and laws have been disregarded or thrown out altogether.

"The Republican National Committee, and the Democratic National Committee for that matter, have absolutely no business injecting themselves into Fourth of July celebrations. Beyond funneling taxpayer dollars into his own private business, the President is all but auctioning off the best seats on the National Mall to his biggest donors. These changes directly increase the costs to taxpayers for the benefit of the RNC's donors and Trump's political campaign. This holiday is about families celebrating with hotdogs and fireworks, not the RNC and battle tanks.

"I am reminding Congress and this President, in particular, that the District is still owed $7.3 million for Trump's 2017 Inauguration, which has yet to be paid, and we still do not know the cost of his July 4th political extravaganza. This unprecedented political show will again be paid for by American taxpayers. Those who live in the District are demanding that the federal government pay its fair share."