The Pentagon says July 4 military costs amounted to $ 1.2 million: NPR

The Pentagon controller said it would cost an additional $ 1.2 million to fund his share of President Trump's "Salute to America" ​​program for a larger celebration on July 4 in Washington. , DC, last week.

Defense Department officials said Tuesday that spending on staff participation and demonstrations came largely from their training budgets.

"The Defense Department has been supporting" Hi America "with aircraft demonstrations, fixed equipment demonstrations and participation in ceremonial units," the Pentagon said in its statement. "Funding for the demonstrations came from military service training budgets that facilitate flying hours, which are essential for military readiness." Additional funds were used to transport exhibition materials and media. static. "

The White House and other Trump administration officials have remained unobtrusive over the past few weeks regarding costs and other details related to the event, such as the contribution federal agencies such as the Pentagon and the Department of the Interior.

As a result, government officials faced increasing pressure and questions about the amount of extra expenses it cost for the event. The Department of the Interior has not yet detailed its tab. NPR has contacted the federal and local agencies involved but has not yet received a response.

Trump announced Monday that he planned to repeat the salute to the military next year. The comments came the same day that a trio of Democratic senators called for a federal watchdog to investigate the event.

"It was a wonderful day for all Americans and, because of its tremendous success, we are just making the decision and I think we can say we made the decision to do it again next year, and maybe be we can say, for the foreseeable future, "said Trump during an event at the White House.

Less than a week after Trump led the July 4th enlarged party in the nation's capital, Democratic senators asked the Government Accountability Office to determine the cost of the final bill for taxpayers.

Democratic Sens. Tom Udall of New Mexico, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland have called for the creation of a federal watchdog to pay tribute to the military event in tribute to Trump on Thursday. All three are members of the Senate Credits Committee.

The Pentagon detailed on Tuesday additional material used on Thursday to execute Trump's July 4 vision. Overflights included the jetliner used for Air Force One, the Navy Blue Angels, the B-2 Spirit (also known as the Stealth Bomber), two F-35 Lightning II jets, two F-22 Raptors and two F-35s. 18 Hornets.

The aerial demonstrations also included the new helicopter used as Marine One, four AH-64E Army Apache Guardian helicopters, two MV-22 Ospreys, several Coast Guard helicopters and a jet aircraft.

In total, nearly two dozen jets and helicopters representing all military services were used, the Pentagon said. Aircraft came from all over the country, including Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Missouri and California.

The Pentagon also shipped two M1A2 Abrams tanks and two M2 Bradley combat vehicles from Fort Stewart, Georgia, by rail to Washington, DC, for exhibition.

In addition, three military groups from the Washington, DC area, occurred during Trump's speech in the Lincoln Memorial: The Old Fife Army Corps Fife and Drum Corps, the Navy Corps platoon and the Marine Corps fanfare.

"The Defense Ministry has long been promoting military assets in the country to recognize the contributions of our military forces to the safety and security of the country and to help recruit future generations of Service personnel," he said. said Department of Defense officials. Tuesday's statement.

Overflights alone were expected to cost more than $ 500,000, according to estimates of the number of flying hours of the Department of Defense. Last week, The Washington Post announced that the National Parks Service would transfer $ 2.5 million in park fees to cover new expenses.

Military leaders, government officials, VIPs, family and friends who received tickets from the White House, the Republican National Committee and the Department of Defense attended Trump's speech.

Legislators also want the GAO to review the event in the middle of a $ 12 billion backlog of maintenance from the National Parks Service, which comes under the Department of the Interior. They also raised questions about a video produced from the event tweeted by the White House and the Trump campaign.

Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at Washington's Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it would be difficult to get a final count of additional costs related to July 4th. of Trump.

"Some of these costs are buried in annual appropriations" for the current fiscal year, Cancian warned.