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Norton Says a Military Parade in D.C. Would Shut Down the Nation’s Capital and Waste Taxpayer Dollars to Feed the President’s Ego

February 7, 2018

Norton Would Seek Federal Funds to Avoid Costs to D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a statement regarding President Trump's reported directive for a military parade in the District of Columbia. Each year, Norton secures a federal payment to the District to cover emergency planning and security costs of large-scale events and demonstrations, including the presidential inauguration.

"President's Trump's desire to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on a military parade in the style of authoritarian leaders he admires would feed his ego and perhaps his base, rather than serve any legitimate purpose or keep with any long-held American traditions. While the District of Columbia, as the nation's capital, is proud to host grand federal celebrations, such as the inauguration, we will fight a shutdown of our city that simply assuages Trump's desire to brag and boast in a series of tweets. No one on Earth doubts that the American military is the most powerful in the world. Unlike less powerful nations, the United States has no need to show off by strutting our soldiers and equipment to prove our strength and leadership. Instead of wasting precious taxpayer resources, the way to show our service members and veterans that we appreciate their service is to use the military parade money to fund their health care and other services they need now."