Pentagon reporter Lolita Baldor landed a major scoop when she obtained a slide deck detailing the Army’s plans for a possible military parade to mark the service’s 250th anniversary—an event that would coincide with President Donald Trump’s birthday.
Trump has long sought such a display, having abandoned a similar effort during his first term due to cost concerns. Despite widespread budget cuts across the federal government, the new plans were sweeping: 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles including tanks, 50 helicopters, seven military bands, and potentially thousands of civilian participants.
Although the document included no official cost estimate, Baldor used her deep expertise in defense reporting to determine a likely multimillion-dollar price tag. She confirmed key details through trusted sources, breaking the story and confirming long-rumored plans that had not been previously detailed.
The scoop drew wide attention and stood out not only for its news value but for the sourcing work that made it possible. Judges were especially impressed by the depth of reporting.
Remarkably, this wasn’t Baldor’s only exclusive of the day—she also broke the news that military sexual assault reports had declined in 2024, beating competitors by hours.
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