Partial Federal Shutdown Shrinks Congressional Presence at Munich Security Conference

Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the official House delegation to Europe's biggest annual security summit amid a funding battle that is expected to shutter the Department of Homeland Security.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a moment of frayed trans-Atlantic relations, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly canceled the House delegation to the Munich Security Conference, Europe's biggest annual security summit. The congressional delegation had been expected to be the largest ever this year, with around 50 lawmakers planning to travel to Munich to reassure allies. But amid a funding battle that is expected to shutter the Department of Homeland Security, Johnson called off the official trip. Some Democrats warned that canceling the delegation was the wrong decision, arguing that lawmakers could have returned to Washington within two days to vote if a funding deal was reached. Several senators, however, are still traveling to the conference independently.

Why it matters

The cancellation of the House delegation comes at a time of strained relations between the U.S. and its European allies, following controversial statements and actions by the Trump administration. The absence of a large congressional presence at the Munich Security Conference could be seen as a missed opportunity to reaffirm America's commitment to its transatlantic partnerships on critical national security issues.

The details

The congressional delegation to the Munich Security Conference had been expected to be the largest ever, with around 50 lawmakers planning to travel to the event. However, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly canceled the official House delegation amid a funding battle that is expected to shutter the Department of Homeland Security this weekend. It is standard operating procedure to call off congressional travel during a government shutdown, and a senior House Republican leadership aide said that was the reason for the cancellation. But top Democrats, including Representative Adam Smith, warned that canceling the delegation was the wrong decision in a moment of frayed trans-Atlantic relations.

  • The Munich Security Conference begins on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The Department of Homeland Security is expected to shut down this weekend.

The players

Mike Johnson

The Speaker of the House of Representatives who canceled the official House delegation to the Munich Security Conference.

Adam Smith

The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee who criticized the decision to cancel the delegation, arguing that lawmakers could have returned to Washington within two days to vote if a funding deal was reached.

Lindsey Graham

A Republican senator from South Carolina who is leading a bipartisan delegation of 11 senators to the Munich Security Conference.

Jeanne Shaheen

A Democratic senator from New Hampshire who is leading another bipartisan delegation to the conference, where she plans to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland.

Eric Schmitt

A Republican senator from Missouri who criticized Democratic senators for blocking GOP proposals to fund the Department of Homeland Security and then traveling to the Munich Security Conference.

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What they’re saying

“It's more important than ever that we continue to engage with our partners and allies on critically important national security issues, and send a message of strength through unity.”

— Adam Smith, Representative, House Armed Services Committee (The New York Times)

“They're going to shut that down and then get to fly to Munich on the taxpayer dime and trash President Trump's foreign policy to Europeans. They should not be going to Europe. This shouldn't be happening. It's ridiculous.”

— Eric Schmitt, Senator (The New York Times)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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