The government partially shut down late Friday night after Congress was unable to agree on a funding deal. Some lawmakers’ choice to attend international events in Europe this weekend has sparked backlash from colleagues across party lines.
“It’s absurd. I hope the American people take notice,” said Rep. Eric Burleson, a Republican from Missouri.
The deadline for funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posed challenges. Many Congress members were scheduled to attend the annual Munich Security Conference, planning to leave by Thursday evening.
On Thursday, Congress departed Washington without a funding agreement after the Senate couldn’t pass either a full-year funding bill for DHS or a temporary two-week extension.
By late Friday, DHS was officially shut down while some members of Congress were already in Germany.
Republican leaders stayed on alert, ready to return if a deal emerged. Senate Majority Leader John Thune issued a 24-hour warning for senators to come back, while House Speaker Mike Johnson provided a 48-hour notice.
Even though plans for the trip had been made long ago, some lawmakers felt leaving during such a critical time gave a poor impression.
Sen. Rick Scott from Florida criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, alleging that Democrats were obstructing Republican efforts to secure funding for DHS.
“Schumer is making the call here,” Scott stated. “He seems more focused on Munich than on funding DHS.”
Members of both chambers were engaged in discussions on security policy at the Munich forum, which attracts political leaders and decision-makers.
Some House representatives expressed disdain over the Senate members’ decision to leave amidst stalled negotiations with the White House.
“The Senate has been saying ‘no one should leave town,’” Rep. Mark Amodei, a Republican from Nevada, remarked. “Now they’re off to Munich while we’ve sent the bill. Is that a proud moment for the federal government?”
Senators Lindsey Graham and Sheldon Whitehouse led a bipartisan group to the conference.
When questioned if the government shutdown would impact travel plans, the White House commented, “We hope it won’t.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, intended to participate in a panel discussion at the conference and said lawmakers should address the ongoing issues before departing.
“I’m unhappy with the lack of response from the Republican Party, but at this point, it’s on them,” Blumenthal expressed.
House rules typically restrict participation in official delegations during a federal shutdown. Nevertheless, several House members, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, still traveled to Bavaria.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole warned, “It would be unconscionable for Congress to leave without resolving this issue.”
“Munich is a great place. I’ve been there. The beer is fantastic,” Cole said. “But there’s no reason to be at a defense conference when we’re neglecting our own defense needs.”
Negotiations aim to continue through the weekend, although many lawmakers are overseas. Senate Democrats might propose a counter-offer to the White House, but no formal plan has emerged yet.
Even if an agreement is reached, drafting the bill and presenting it in the Senate would take additional time. Some lawmakers voiced concern that walking away from negotiations—whether to head home or travel elsewhere—was misplaced.
“I’ve been open about staying put to resolve issues and avoid a shutdown,” Sen. James Lankford from Oklahoma told Fox News Digital. “The best approach is to say, ‘Nobody leaves the table.’ We need to stay engaged.”
Rep. Joe Morrell from New York acknowledged the significance of international conferences but criticized Republican leadership’s priorities regarding funding. “It’s ironic we’re not here to address essential services while we make time for a major international conference,” Morrell noted. “This reflects poorly on our leadership… We’re failing to carry out the fundamental responsibilities of our roles.”
