Vermont Governor May Attend Governors Meeting If All Included

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Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, says he may attend the upcoming National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C. this week, but only if all governors are allowed to participate. Scott had originally planned to boycott the event because President Trump wanted to exclude Democratic governors, but he now says he'll only attend if it's a bipartisan meeting with no exclusions.

Why it matters

The National Governors Association meeting is an important annual event where state leaders come together to discuss policy priorities and coordinate with the federal government. Governor Scott's potential boycott highlights the ongoing partisan divisions in American politics, even at the state level.

The details

Scott's team says it's still unclear whether he will ultimately attend the event, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, as it depends on whether certain governors are left out. The governor has said he will only participate if it's a truly bipartisan gathering with no exclusions.

• The National Governors Association meeting is scheduled for February 19-21, 2026.
• Governor Scott originally planned to boycott the event.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The National Governors Association will decide in the coming days whether the meeting will be open to all state governors or if certain ones will be excluded.