Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is facing intense bipartisan scrutiny after being photographed vacationing at Walt Disney World while a partial government shutdown enters its sixth week, paralyzing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The images, published by TMZ, surfaced as Congress remains deadlocked over DHS funding. The photos depict Graham dining at Disney’s Contemporary Resort on March 29 and later waiting in line for Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, carrying a bubble wand.
The shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, began in February after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on DHS appropriations. While House Republicans passed a short-term funding bill on March 27, Senate Democrats labeled the measure “dead on arrival,” citing disputes over immigration agency funding.
Despite the looming crisis, leadership in both chambers permitted a two-week recess, leaving thousands of federal employees without pay.
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In a statement to media outlets, Graham defended his presence in Florida, claiming his trip began with an official diplomatic purpose. He reported meeting with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami on Friday to discuss potential normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
“I went to Orlando to meet friends after,” Graham stated, shifting blame for the legislative impasse onto his colleagues across the aisle. “I’ve voted to fully fund the government multiple times. Call a Democrat.”
Following the Disney controversy, Graham posted a photo to social media showing him shooting clay pigeons in Edgefield County, South Carolina, noting he had already left Florida.
The disclosure of Graham’s activities is part of a broader investigative push by TMZ to track lawmakers during the recess. Founder Harvey Levin recently called on the public to document the 535 members of Congress while they are away from Washington.
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“We want to show what they are doing at your expense,” Levin said, characterizing the recess as an insult to taxpayers.
Graham is not the only lawmaker caught in the crosshairs:
- Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) was photographed at a Las Vegas casino. Garcia defended the trip as a visit to his father but criticized Speaker Mike Johnson for sending Congress home during a crisis.
- Rep. Seth Magaziner (R-RI) is reportedly hosting a television premiere watch party this week.
The ongoing DHS shutdown has halted critical operations and delayed paychecks for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and Border Patrol officers. With the Senate not expected to reconvene with a viable solution until mid-April, the political fallout for lawmakers seen vacationing continues to mount.
As of press time, Graham’s office has not responded to further inquiries regarding the optics of the trip during a national funding crisis.
