Overview
- International Leadership of Texas canceled its Washington trip for distinguished student ambassadors after the State Department, the U.S. Capitol and the FBI stopped hosting during the shutdown.
- The itinerary had included a Capitol visit with Sen. John Cornyn, an FBI training day at Quantico, stops at the State Department and Naval Academy, and meetings at the Mexican and Chinese embassies.
- Superintendent Eddie Conger said emails from Cornyn’s office and the State Department confirmed they could not accommodate the students under shutdown restrictions.
- The network expects a $30,000 to $50,000 loss and is seeking to rebook the full program for February or March, with some plans pointing to early 2026.
- Leaders and students called the loss a setback for a free, equity-focused capstone that supports college preparation for a largely low-income cohort.