San Diego County officials are facing criticism after internal emails and county documents revealed that the county's America 250 Fourth of July celebration was reshaped with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements that critics say shifted the focus away from commemorating the nation's founding, as reported by Fox News.

The event, originally proposed as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, is scheduled to take place at Waterfront Park in the San Diego area.

According to county planning documents and internal emails obtained by Fox News Digital, organizers also faced funding challenges after at least one sponsor declined to participate because of newly required DEI commitments.

They have to sneak “woke” into everything — they know it would be rejected in the open. https://t.co/1s4voEMvUB

— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) July 1, 2026

The celebration's program includes a tribal blessing, a land acknowledgment, and nearly two hours of community-story presentations highlighting what organizers describe as historically underserved populations.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

According to an internal county "run of show" obtained by Fox News Digital, guests will first hear a "Tribal Intimate blessing welcoming to land," followed by a "Welcoming and Land Acknowledgment" led by the event emcee.

The program then continues with a "Tribal Invocation," the Black national anthem, the U.S. national anthem, and community-story presentations focused on local tribal communities, Latino communities, Asian American communities, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, LGBT communities, and Black and African communities.

The event will also include music, food trucks, booths, and other cultural presentations before concluding with closing remarks and a fireworks display.

Bill Wells, mayor of the City of El Cajon in San Diego County, criticized the direction of the event and argued that the nation's founding had been pushed aside.

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

"I have an alternative plan: 1. Acknowledge America and its greatness. 2. Celebrate with fireworks and the American National Anthem," Wells posted on X alongside a copy of the planned event schedule.

Below is the County of San Diego’s Fourth of July celebration.

I have an alternative plan: 1.Acknowledge America and its greatness. 2.Celebrate with fireworks and the American National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/lFKeYRVnU0 — Bill Wells (@MayorBillWells) June 29, 2026

In comments to Fox News Digital, Wells added, "Independence Day, especially this one, is about celebrating and honoring America. What the county of San Diego has created ignores this in favor of grievance and a sense that our country is not great or worthy of pride. That’s just offensive, especially in light of the fact that they’re using taxpayer money to do so."

The controversy traces back to actions taken earlier this year by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

In February, Republican San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond introduced a proposal calling for a Fourth of July celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, citing the region's longstanding connection to the nation's defense and civic institutions.

The county's Democratic-controlled Board of Supervisors later approved amendments directing the county's chief administrative officer to work with the Office of Equity and Racial Justice and the county's Tribal Liaison.

The revised motion instructed officials to include community engagement involving tribal nations, immigrant communities, LGBT communities, and other historically underserved groups.

Wells also criticized those changes on X.

"Supervisors Desmond and Anderson brought forward a 250th celebration for the whole region. The three Democrats rewrote it, tied it to the county's ‘equity, inclusion, and racial justice goals,’ and handed planning to the Office of Equity and Racial Justice," Wells wrote while posting copies of the amended meeting minutes.

Internal county emails reviewed by Fox News Digital also indicate that the event lost a planned $2,500 sponsorship after a prospective donor declined to complete paperwork requiring sponsors to affirm support for the county's DEI principles and immigrant communities.

County staff members also acknowledged in internal emails that organizers remained thousands of dollars short of the funding needed for a complete stage, lighting, and sound setup.

David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth, criticized the event's schedule.

"The official government July 4th itinerary of San Diego reads like the opening ceremony of the Democratic Socialists of America convention," McIntosh said.

Anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck also objected to the event's emphasis on underserved populations.

"Democrats are essentially excluding White community members from the Fourth of July," Starbuck contended in response to the event schedule and its equity-focused programming, describing it as "vile."

Fox News Digital reported that it contacted San Diego County and the county's Department of Parks and Recreation for comment regarding the criticism, but did not receive a response.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.