Since the start of Donald Trump’s second term, reports WIRED, an events company that helped organize the infamously violent January 6th rally in 2021 has been given tens of millions in government contracts. Contracted by the General Services Administration, Event Strategies will receive as much as $100 over the next 15 years.
What’s more, according to HigherGov, which monitors governmental contractors, 8 of 11 tracked projects were bid on solely by Event Strategies, indicating a suspicious lack of competition.
Senate Democrats concerned about the situation sent an open letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgham declaring, “It is imperative that Congress and the public understand how decisions are made, who exercises control, and what guardrails exist to prevent inappropriate donor influence.”
Over the past decade, the company has become deeply involved with the Trump organization. Its CEO Justin Caporale worked as Director of Operations for Melania Trump in 2018 before joining the Trump campaign in 2020. When Trump lost the election, Event Strategies cofounder Tim Unes served as stage manager for the Jan 6 rally, with company Chief of Staff Megan Powers Small noted as “Operations Manager for Scheduling and Guidance” on the rally permit. After leaving office, Trump continued his association with the company, which went on to produce many of his rallies.
Upon reelection, Trump named Caporale “executive producer for major events,” and the company has since garnered several high-value contracts, including for producing Trump’s widely panned military parade. During the first year of Trump’s second term, Caporale was also paid $6,500 per month by the Republican National Committee.
By September 2025, Event Strategies had negotiated multiple contracts linked to celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Slated to run through 2030 with the option to extend through 2045, the contract terms are vague and give the company broad hiring powers.
Critics are wary of this lack of transparency.
“Absent clear rules,” warned Democratic senators, “this structure risks blurring the line between legitimate civic fundraising and pay-for-play access tied to official government functions, an all too familiar feature of the current Administration.”
Event Strategies’ largest governmental customer is currently the Department of Defense, which has paid the organization to manage several events, including nearly $190,000 for a “backyard cookout and performance.”