The United States adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. An intense heat wave over the eastern United States prompted cancellations of the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade in Philadelphia and the Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., while 956,388 power outages were reported across Midwest and Northeast states. America250, a bipartisan commission established by Congress, and President Trump's Freedom 250 committee are overseeing related 250th anniversary events.