Babies born between now and the end of the year will carry a commemorative Social Security card marking America's 250th anniversary, the Trump administration announced Wednesday. The limited-edition cards feature the Freedom 250 logo and will be issued only to infants born from July 2 through December 31.
Social Security Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen the agency. "The next generation of Americans born during this historic year will receive limited-edition Social Security cards bearing the Freedom 250 logo," he said. "Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, we are strengthening Social Security, improving service, and building an SSA to serve Americans today and in the future."
The agency specified that any replacement or duplicate cards ordered during that window will not include the Freedom 250 design, limiting the special edition to original issuances for newborns.
The move arrives as the nation gears up for its semiquintennial celebration this weekend. Washington is hosting the Great American State Fair and a Salute to America fireworks display Saturday, part of a larger slate of commemorative events organized by Freedom 250, a group established by the Trump administration last year to coordinate anniversary programming.
Other scheduled events include the Sail250 celebration and this fall's Patriot Games, along with the Rededicate 250 prayer jubilee held in May. Freedom 250 operates separately from America250, an older organization created by Congress a decade ago to plan semiquicentennial events.
The commemorative cards have drawn criticism from those who argue that Freedom 250 is politicizing what should be nonpartisan national celebrations. The group counters that it maintains a nonpartisan stance and welcomes all participants to its events.
The Social Security cards are not the first government documents to carry Trump administration branding this year. In April, the State Department announced that Americans could request passports bearing an image of President Donald Trump on the inside cover through the Washington Passport Agency.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The government is turning milestone moments into branded merchandise, and that's a problem whether you're a Trump supporter or not."
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