Lawmakers Vacation as Americans Endure Travel Chaos

Senators and Representatives spotted at Disney World, casinos, and airports as government shutdown disrupts air travel

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:42pm

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A dynamic, fragmented painting depicting the motion of a TSA agent, with their body repeated in overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, grey, and white, conveying the chaos and disruption caused by the government shutdown at airports.As the government shutdown disrupts air travel, lawmakers' vacations amid the chaos highlight the disconnect between Congress and the American people.

As the partial government shutdown continues, leaving Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents without pay and causing major travel disruptions at airports across the country, several members of Congress have been spotted vacationing at places like Disney World, Las Vegas casinos, and airports catching flights out of Washington, D.C.

Why it matters

The optics of lawmakers taking time off while their constituents face travel hell due to the ongoing political standoff in Congress has drawn significant criticism. The shutdown has resulted in hundreds of TSA agents quitting or calling out of work, exacerbating the chaos at airports.

The details

Photos and reports show that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was spotted dining and wandering around Disney World with a bubble wand, while Democratic Representative Robert Garcia was photographed at a casino in Las Vegas. Other lawmakers like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Ted Cruz were seen at Reagan Airport in D.C. catching flights out of the city. The revelations came after TMZ put out a call for the public to send in any photos or videos of members of Congress on vacation during the shutdown.

  • The government shutdown has been ongoing for over a month, withholding pay from TSA agents.
  • Last week, the House rejected a Senate deal that would have unlocked funding for the TSA.
  • Congress is currently on a two-week spring recess.

The players

Lindsey Graham

A Republican Senator from South Carolina who was spotted vacationing at Disney World.

Robert Garcia

A Democratic Representative from California who was photographed at a casino in Las Vegas.

John Thune

The Senate Majority Leader who was seen at Reagan Airport in D.C. catching a flight.

Ted Cruz

A Republican Senator who was also photographed at Reagan Airport in D.C.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House Press Secretary who encouraged Congress to return to Washington to resolve the shutdown.

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What they’re saying

“If anybody goes to Disney World with their family for spring break, or goes to a beach somewhere, or anywhere on vacation, and you see any one of the 535 members of Congress, take a picture and send it to us. We want to show what they are doing at your expense.”

— Harvey Levin, TMZ Founder and Editor

“Trump is encouraging Congress to come back to Washington to permanently fix this problem and to fund and reopen the Department of Homeland Security entirely.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

What’s next

Congress is expected to return from their spring recess in the coming weeks, at which point they will need to reach a deal to end the partial government shutdown and restore funding for the TSA and other affected agencies.

The takeaway

The optics of lawmakers vacationing while their constituents face travel chaos due to the government shutdown have drawn significant criticism. This highlights the disconnect between Congress and the American people, and the urgent need for lawmakers to return to Washington and resolve the ongoing political impasse.