The White House is restricting lawmaker travel to Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands on military aircraft this weekend in an attempt to keep the focus on helping recovery efforts, according to the Washington Post.
Rescue and relief efforts are escalating as the federal government races to help those victims of Hurricanes Maria and Irma in the devastated islands.
According to the Post, 10 members of the House and Senate were hoping to travel to the islands this Friday, with another group of lawmakers heading down Sunday. Members of both parties would have viewed the destruction first-hand, in addition to meeting with military and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials.
But permission to use military aircraft has been denied since Monday, as Pentagon and White House officials indicated that they need the resources for rescue and recovery efforts.
Several lawmakers have already traveled to Puerto Rico within the last week, including Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, D-N.Y., who traveled as a part of New York’s official delegation, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who flew on U.S. Coast Guard aircraft.
President Trump announced Monday that he would be visiting Puerto Rico next week and possibly the U.S. Virgin Islands.
