The PARADE Act would bar the use of federal funds for a specific type of event called a “covered parade.” A covered parade is one that is sponsored by the Department of Defense or by the White House/Executive Office of the President and that specifically commemorates or pays tribute to the current President. In plain terms, the bill would prevent DoD and the White House/EOP budget from paying for parades that celebrate the sitting president. It does not prohibit all parades, only those that meet both criteria and are funded by these federal entities. The bill is introduced and would move through the normal committee process. It has no listed exemptions in the text provided, and its effect would hinge on how “covering” parades is interpreted and enforced within federal budgeting.
Key Points
- 1Prohibits use of funds for covered parades: Any money appropriated to or made available to the Department of Defense or to the White House/Executive Office of the President cannot be used for a covered parade.
- 2Definition of a covered parade: A parade that is sponsored by DoD or by the White House/EOP and that specifically commemorates or pays tribute to the current President.
- 3Scope limited to certain parades: Only parades that meet both sponsor and commemorative criteria are affected; other parades (e.g., not sponsored by DoD/EOP or not commemorating the current President) are not addressed by this prohibition.
- 4No explicit exemptions in the text: The provided language does not list exceptions or alternative funding options within the bill.
- 5Legislative status: Introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the Armed Services and Oversight and Government Reform committees.