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Rosie Rios, the former U.S. treasurer who now heads the America 250 Commission, is orchestrating an ambitious, bipartisan effort to mark the nation's semicentennial.
As people around the world prepare to celebrate the new year on Wednesday evening, the iconic Times Square ball will sparkle with a special red, white and blue design and, for the first time, a second wave of confetti will be released at midnight, marking America's semi-centennial.
Many events, rallies and other celebrations are planned ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th.
At the center of these preparations is Rosie Rios, a former U.S. Treasurer under President Barack Obama, who has led the U.S. Semicentennial Commission since 2022. Rios has worked closely with cabinet officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, to implement nationwide programs, such as Our American Story, an oral history project, and America Gives, an initiative to encourage volunteerism.
Rios, 60, was appointed by former President Joe Biden to lead the bipartisan commission, which includes 16 private citizens and eight members of Congress appointed in equal numbers by the House and Senate leaders of both parties, along with ex-officio agency heads and other government officials. It includes conservative Republicans like Kellyanne Conway and liberal Democrats like Jack Schlossberg.
The commission is separate from, but in close coordination with, a White House task force created by President Donald Trump to plan celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. Congress appropriated $150 million for all semicentennial celebrations through the GOP mega-bill that Trump signed this summer, and the president is also raising funds through a new organization called Freedom250.
Rios spoke with Politico revealing her approach to leading the commission.
You participated in the bicentennial activities. What lessons did you learn from 1976?
It was a very local, community-driven kind of feeling rather than a memory. We took a field trip to the Oakland train station to see the Freedom Train.
More than anything, I remember July 4th, 1976. It was a cloudy, but bright, California night. And it was the feeling of gratitude for my mother, who raised us and sent all nine of us to college. To think about that feeling I had, that this was the land of opportunity, that's my goal for 2026.
You are a rare Democratic-appointed leader who has not been fired by President Trump. How did you achieve that?
Four words: no politics, just purpose. That's the secret. This is my fifth administration. So it's working the way Congress intended it to: to be bipartisan, to represent all three branches of government in a way that allows all to participate.
How have you been engaging with the White House since Trump took office in January?
The executive order was priority number one. I met with the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Vince Haley, just after the New Year, and on the 10th day of the administration, Trump launched Task Force 250, mobilizing all federal agencies to begin their planning efforts.
We immediately signed a memorandum of understanding with the White House task force. Brittany Baldwin has been our liaison and has been invited to every committee meeting since March. I am grateful for their participation. There is no way we can reach 350 million Americans on our own, and we should not do it alone.
In addition to planning programs, you have pushed states to create their own commissions and helped build the largest parliamentary group in history. Why was this important?
This should be like a sea of light. Every American should feel this as a reminder of themselves at the local level and at the grassroots level. We want to empower the states, because I can't tell their stories.
Every country has its own history and narrative. In 1776, Alaska was Russian, Hawaii was its own kingdom, California was Spanish or Mexican, and the Louisiana Purchase doubled our footprint. This concept of a 'nation of nations' is very real.
You often say "350 for 250" because you want to engage 350 million Americans next year. Are you concerned that Trump's immigration policies conflict with your goal of engaging as many people as possible?
Our legislative mandate is to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We cannot be all things to all Americans, but we have something for every American. That is the only way this manual works, by staying focused.
The commission fired executive director Ariel Aberger in September, and the White House later withdrew another executive director nominee. Do you plan to operate without one?
We are open to a process [to have another CEO], but we also have a very strong leadership team, so I'm not worried one way or the other.
Ultimately, what do you want Americans to feel after this?
I'm the biggest patriot out there, and I'm not ashamed to say it. I firmly believe that you can love your country and still want it to be more perfect, exactly as our founding fathers imagined. /Adapted from Politico /
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