Travelers beware: a large-scale military parade in Washington, DC on President Trump’s 79th birthday will require the closure of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and the delay of over 100 flights.

Washington National Airport (DCA) Will Close On June 14, 2025 For Military Parade

On June 14, 2025 the US Army will hold a military parade to commemorate its 250th anniversary. The date chosen for the parade coincides with President Trump’s 79th birthday and will mark the largest military parade in a generation (the last major one was in 1991 to celebrate the US victory in Operation Desert Storm).

The parade begins at 6:00 pm and will end at 9:30 pm, with fireworks to follow. That will delay over 100 flights, though carriers may be adjusting schedules in the following week to avoid takeoffs and landings during that period. View From The Wing notes some southbound departures may be released after 8:45 pm if winds cooperate.

A banner on the DCA website reads:

To accommodate aircraft flyovers along the parade route, followed by a fireworks display, the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to suspend airline operations at DCA — affecting scheduled flights.

The parade, which is expected to cost up to $45 million, has long been a fixation of President Trump. It will include military flyovers, including more than 150 helicopters (64 Apaches, 60 Black Hawks, and 47 Chinooks). Starting near the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the parade will proceed across the Memorial Bridge, circle the Lincoln Memorial, and continue along Constitution Avenue NW between 15th and 23rd Streets.

Approximately 6,600 soldiers and 150 military vehicles (including M1A1 Abrams tanks, Strykers, and Paladin artillery) will take part. President Trump will hold a “reenlistment ceremony” for 250 soldiers.

Russia (and the former Soviet Union) may be the best known for its military parades, but France does them as well on Bastille Day in July.

My own feeling is that tanks in the streets should be reserved for national emergencies only and the Posse Comitatus Act, now under threat, is one of the most important safeguards of liberty and the separation of powers.

CONCLUSION

If your travel plans include DCA next Saturday, June 14, 2025, be aware that you might face delays or cancellations, especially in the evening, thanks to a military parade. I’d recommend avoiding DCA altogether next weekend because road closures and traffic snarls will likely make journeys into the District or Maryland quite tedious.