Outreach workers and government officials are worried residents living outside may face disruptions as D.C. prepares to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary on the National Mall.
The White House is hosting several events in D.C. in association with Freedom 250 to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary. Freedom 250, the public-private organization created by the Trump administration, is separate from America250, the bipartisan nonprofit approved by Congress.
Some nonprofit leaders worry the Freedom 250 celebrations, which began in May and run through the fall, could disrupt outreach to people experiencing homelessness in downtown D.C. Several services are concentrated downtown, as are people living outside, according to Street Sense reporting. The National Park Service (NPS), which oversees federal land in the city, has cited the celebration as a reason for encampment closures as far back as 2024. Other cities in the U.S. have recently displaced homeless residents to prepare for major events, such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
While events center around July 4, they are planned all summer. The first event, Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, took place on May 17. According to NBC, generators used for the event spilled more than 30 gallons of fuel onto the Mall. A FIFA World Cup fan zone is planned on the Mall between Third and Fourth Streets, with space to watch the games daily from June 11 to July 19. Freedom 250 is slated to host seven UFC Freedom 250 fights on the White House South Lawn on June 14.
The National Mall is expected to transform into the campgrounds of The Great American State Fair, from June 25 to July 10. The National Independence Day Parade, hosted by NPS, is anticipated to stretch from Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue on July 4. Freedom 250 will then continue the D.C. tradition of fireworks at the National Mall, hosting the Salute to America 250 Celebration. More than 800,000 fireworks are anticipated to display over the Mall for over 30 minutes, Axios reported.
Finally, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix is expected to block streets near the Capitol end of the Mall for an IndyCar street race the weekend of Aug. 21. According to the official IndyCar track map, the race is expected to start on Pennsylvania Avenue and stretch south to Independence Avenue.
City officials are concerned
During a May 11 budget oversight hearing on, Wayne Turnage, the deputy mayor for D.C. Health and Human Services (DMHHS), told the D.C. Council he is worried about heightened pressure to close encampments as summer celebrations begin.
Last August, Trump ordered the city to ramp up encampment closures after the president signed a 2025 executive order touting beautification projects and increased dispositions of encampments on federal property, including the National Mall. This effort led to residents experiencing homelessness settling into sparser encampments around the city, according to Street Sense reporting.
“We are a little concerned that with the emphasis on the birthday of this country, there could be a push to make sure the streets are absolutely free and clear of all encampments, and that’s a heavy lift,” Turnage said.
Turnage said DMHHS will continue to close encampments at its usual frequency, since it would be difficult to close every encampment in the city. In the first half of June, the agency is scheduled to close 16 encampments, compared to 10 closed in June 2025. Many of those experiencing homelessness in the District often refuse indoor shelter in the summer, Turnage said.
“Will we close every encampment? The answer’s obviously ‘No,’ because some people just don’t want to go inside, and they will just move to another location and create another engagement for [DMHHS].”
Although many residents may stay outside, constant moving can have profound lasting effects on their physical and mental health. The loss of personal belongings, community, and access to nearby social programs can strain illnesses and contribute to exhaustion.
Turnage said the agency takes the position that “encampments should not be allowed on the streets of the city,” since the District has enough shelter beds to hold every resident in an encampment. Street Sense reported shelters reached an average capacity of 90% in March, with fewer than 100 vacancies a night. While the city said in January only 88 people lived in encampments, at least 718 people sleep outside, according to the 2026 Point-in-Time Count.
Nonprofits plan beyond government
Some nonprofits in the District have formed collaborative strategies as concerns rise about the impact of the celebrations. Dr. Ami Angell, founder and director of outreach of The h3 Project, a nonprofit that provides outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness, told Street Sense the organization was not included in local and federal government plans for the events. Instead, h3 and other nonprofits have formed a plan to reach encampments near the National Mall and provide resources to residents.
Angell said she would like to see more coordination among nonprofits, District agencies, and Freedom 250 organizers.
“The event will only be successful if you talk to individuals on the ground, doing the work. I believe that will carry a lot more weight,” Angell said.
Angell warned that protective measures, like security officers holding weapons, can be triggering for some people experiencing homelessness, who may have had negative interactions with security officers or law enforcement.
Angell also anticipates the crowds visiting the District in the summer will make the National Mall difficult to maneuver for outreach teams and people experiencing homelessness. She said The h3 Project expects many residents in encampments may be harder to locate because they may be forced out of sight when Freedom 250 events begin to unfold.
“Some residents may find it difficult to travel to the nearest day center for meals and showers, or their local library for air conditioning and a quiet place to lounge,” Angell said.
Access to these amenities and indoor spaces in the summer is important for all people living outside since extreme heat could exacerbate dehydration and limit residents’ access to medication and case management, according to Angell.
A D.C. Department of Human Services (DHS) spokesperson told Street Sense the agency expects all of its shelters, day centers, and transportation for individuals experiencing homelessness to remain operational and accessible during the summer events. DHS street outreach teams will also continue to engage with individuals throughout the summer, and the agency will continue to reach out to unsheltered residents affected by the Freedom 250 celebrations to assess whether shelter capacity and hours need to be expanded.
Even if there is pressure from Trump and other Freedom 250 organizers, Angell said officials often underestimate the resilience of those experiencing homelessness to access services and fight for their right to be where they want to be.
“Burying them will not be successful,” Angell said. “In the nation’s capital, especially, everyone should have access to housing.”
This article originally appeared in Street Sense’s June 3, 2026 edition.
