More than 30 gallons of fuel leaked onto the National Mall and seeped into underground water reservoirs in Washington, D.C., last month during an event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, according to reports. The event, Rededicate 250, was organised by Freedom 250, a group affiliated with the Trump administration.
The fuel spill occurred on May 17 when fuel lines for commercial generators were allegedly tampered with by vandals, a spokesperson for Freedom 250 told NBC News. The fuel seeped into underground reservoirs that collect rainwater to irrigate the National Mall, sources familiar with the matter said.
An Interior Department official disputed the 30-gallon figure, telling The Independent that the amount spilled was much lower. However, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior blamed vandals, stating that an individual cut a fuel line “in an attempt to stop the great work being done to celebrate our nation’s 250th.”
Rachel Reisner, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, said in a statement: “Upon discovering damage to a generator fuel line, Freedom 250 and our vendors mobilized within minutes, coordinated an immediate cleanup response, and fully remediated the site in close partnership with the National Park Service.” She added that the group is working with law enforcement regarding the vandalism.
Despite the incident, the Rededicate 250 event continued as planned, featuring speeches from religious leaders and government officials, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a video of President Donald Trump reading a Bible passage, and performances from Christian musicians. The event was organised by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership backed by the White House, which has faced scrutiny for using federal tax dollars to hold events aligned with Trump’s agenda.
