The Defense Department, which first planned the parade for November to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, did not give a reason for abrupt change of plan, simply issuing a statement that said it has “agreed to explore opportunities in 2019." | Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo Trump's military parade delayed until 2019

The controversial military parade ordered by President Donald Trump originally scheduled for Veterans Day will be delayed until 2019, the Pentagon announced Thursday night.

The Defense Department, which initially planned the parade for November to coincide with Veterans Day weekend and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, did not give a reason for the abrupt change of plan, simply issuing a statement that said it has “agreed to explore opportunities in 2019."


The announcement came only hours after a report by CNBC that the estimated cost of the parade is now as much as $92 million — much more than previous estimates of $12 million to $30 million.

Trump originally asked for the military to organize such an event after seeing similar demonstrations on Bastille Day in France, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle criticized the pomp and circumstance as reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.

The parade is expected to include marching troops from different branches as well as a "heavy air component" of modern and historic war planes, the Pentagon said in March. But it will not include some of the heaviest military hardware like tanks to avoid damaging roads between the White House and the Capitol like the last one did in 1991 after the Persian Gulf War.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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