Members of the Trump administration will no longer travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, due to the ongoing government shutdown, the White House said Thursday.
“Out of consideration for the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay and to ensure his team can assist as needed, President Trump has canceled his delegation’s trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
The presidential delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, was expected to attend the annual gathering of the wealthy and powerful from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25. The officials slated to attend included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and assistant to the president Chris Liddell.
The news comes after Trump canceled an overseas trip for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., citing the partial government shutdown, which entered its 27th day Thursday.
Trump indicated in his letter he was taking away Pelosi’s access to military aircraft, but told the speaker she could still fly commercial.
In addition to canceling Pelosi’s trip, which was scheduled to include stops in Afghanistan and Brussels, a White House official said all CODELS, or congressional delegations, are postponed during the shutdown.
Trump himself was initially scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum but decided earlier this month to cancel his trip.
The president and congressional Democrats have been at a stalemate over funding for a wall along the southern border. Trump wants Congress to appropriate $5.7 billion in a government spending bill, but Democrats oppose the request.
