Forget pickleball and wine tasting. The government shutdown may force lawmakers in both parties to scrap luxury retreats planned this month in Napa Valley and Sea Island, Georgia.
The Senate GOP’s planned getaway to the ultra-exclusive Sea Island is slated to begin on Friday, but it’s unclear whether lawmakers will go through with the trip while the federal government remains shuttered amid a partisan spending standoff that began Oct. 1.
Senate Democrats have more time to decide whether to go forward with their Napa Valley political conference, which is slated to start Oct. 13 at the Hotel Yountville, a luxury resort and spa located in the heart of California’s wine country.
Without a resolution, Congress will be grappling with Day 12 of a government shutdown when Democrats hope to jet to the West Coast for their luxury retreat. The shutdown left federal employees, including air traffic controllers and other essential workers, without paychecks and shuttered nonessential government services.
On Thursday, the two parties remained at a standoff over a funding bill. They continued to blame each other for the impasse, which is centered primarily on Democrats’ objections to the elimination of COVID-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies.
Senators plan another vote on a bill Friday to extend government funding until Nov. 21 after earlier attempts failed to win enough Democrats to meet the required 60-vote threshold. The Friday vote is also expected to fall short.
Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that “of course” the Senate GOP should remain in Washington over the weekend to work on a deal to end the shutdown.
“The House is coming back next week hoping they will be sending us something to work on and we can get back to the work of the people,” the Louisiana Republican said. “They are anxious to come back.”
Both luxury retreats are paid for by the two parties’ respective fundraising arms, which are funded by political donations. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which is sponsoring the Napa retreat, reported that 98% of its donations during the 2024 election cycle came from donors who gave less than $200.
The annual retreats are meant to provide party lawmakers with the chance to huddle on fundraising and messaging the political strategies ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Lawmakers are prohibited from strategizing on election issues inside the Capitol, but hold regular meetings at their respective party headquarters located a few blocks away.
The Democrats’ two-day retreat includes breakfast, lunch and two political briefings. Lawmakers will also have the chance to participate in a wine tour and dinner.
The Senate GOP’s retreat at the five-star Sea Island Resort offers group rates from $495 to $599 per night. That’s about half the rate the resort charges for most of its rooms in October.
Republicans will attend a welcome reception and dinner on Friday and a two-hour “general session” on Saturday morning. The rest of the day includes recreational activities such as golf, pickleball, fishing, shooting and “afternoon lawn games.”
The invitations were first obtained by Politico.
The Washington Times reached out to the National Republican Senatorial Committee to find out if it plans to hold the retreat this weekend or cancel it.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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