Overview

• The congressionally created commission said Ariel Abergel initiated a security breach of an official social-media account, misrepresented himself to seek commissioners’ resignations, and undertook unauthorized actions involving programming, finances and communications.
• Abergel disputes the explanation, asserting he was punished for posting on the America250 Instagram, “America is in mourning. God bless Charlie Kirk,” and says he was suspended, asked to resign and then terminated.
• Commission officials said they will select a new executive director in consultation with the White House, which praised Abergel’s work and said its task force will continue coordinating 250th-anniversary events.
• Abergel, 25, was appointed in the spring by President Trump and helped produce the Army250 parade in June and other kickoff events that some commissioners criticized as partisan.
• Sources told the Wall Street Journal that Abergel sought to steer the celebrations toward honoring Trump, a claim reflected in earlier internal tensions that he rejects.