Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a ceremony in Washington, D.C., alongside National Guard members as the city marks the start of its 250th anniversary celebrations. Multiple outlets report that the event highlights the Trump administration’s “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force,” an initiative described as focused on increasing security and beautification efforts in the nation’s capital. The ceremony is presented as part of broader “America 250” commemorations, with the task force featured as a centerpiece of the administration’s work in the city. Coverage describes Hegseth thanking the National Guard and participating in the program with troops. The outlets frame the gathering as both a recognition of National Guard involvement and a public showcase of the task force’s goals ahead of the anniversary period. Neither source provides detailed figures or specific outcomes of the task force, instead emphasizing the event, the participants, and the initiative’s stated aims. The reporting also notes the timing as D.C. begins its 250th anniversary celebrations.