Budget director Mick Mulvaney said Wednesday that he has seen estimates that a potential military parade requested by President Donald Trump could cost between $10 million and $30 million.
Mulvaney told a congressional hearing that a parade is not included in the administration’s budget proposal because it came up late in the planning process. But if the administration decides to go forward with a parade, the Office of Management and Budget would study the costs.
The wide range between estimates is because parades of different lengths and equipment would have different costs. A one-hour parade, he noted, would cost less than a five-hour parade.
“We actually have (had) military parades in this country before,” he said in response to a question from Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Texas. “I think we had one as recently as the 1990s, or even more recently than that.”
He continued: “I’ve seen various different costs … we’ll continue to work with you folks if (the administration) decides to push forward with that initiative.”
Earlier this month, Trump asked for a military parade and the Pentagon was reviewing potential dates, according to Pentagon spokesman Charlie Summers.
The spokesman described the planning process as being in its “infancy” at the time.
“President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great servicemembers who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe. He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said earlier this month.
Military parades, while unusual, are not unprecedented in the US, though there hasn’t been a major one in Washington since 1991 to celebrate victory in the Gulf War. That display, which drew roughly 200,000 attendees, featured various military units marching, Navy and Marine bands performing, and jets and helicopters flying over the crowd.
CNN’s Eli Watkins and Ryan Browne contributed to this report.