WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald J. Trump on Friday signed an executive order directing federal agencies to fast-track plans for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an unprecedented INDYCAR street race set to run through the heart of Washington, D.C., as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The order calls for the first motor race ever held near the National Mall, with cars expected to navigate a street circuit framed by some of the country’s most iconic monuments. The White House described the event as a showcase of American innovation, engineering, and speed, tying more than a century of U.S. motor racing tradition to the semiquincentennial of American independence.
Under the directive, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Transportation have 14 days to designate a race route capable of hosting an INDYCAR street race while highlighting the capital’s historic landmarks. The agencies are also instructed to expedite all necessary permits and approvals to plan and conduct the event.
The order authorizes the Department of Transportation to use available funds to help facilitate the race and directs coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration to allow permitted aerial photography and unmanned aircraft systems to enhance public viewing, while maintaining security around nearby government facilities. Federal officials are also instructed to work with the mayor of Washington, D.C., to ensure roads, bridges, and trails used for the course are properly maintained.
In a fact sheet accompanying the order, the White House said the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will honor America’s motorsport legacy while uniting spectators around a national celebration. INDYCAR racing, which traces its roots back more than 100 years, is described as a distinctly American sport that has produced legends such as A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti and continues to draw global attention to the Indianapolis 500 each Memorial Day weekend.
The Freedom 250 is positioned as a centerpiece of the broader America250 initiative, marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 1776. The administration said the race will combine history and spectacle, placing high-performance racing against the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and other national symbols.
The executive order states that its implementation will be subject to existing law and available appropriations and does not create enforceable legal rights for outside parties. Publication costs will be borne by the Department of the Interior.
The White House said the race aligns with a series of initiatives announced by Trump to commemorate the anniversary, including large-scale public events, new national landmarks, and cultural celebrations intended to highlight what the administration calls American greatness, past and present.
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