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6d ago

NRSC Proceeds With Sea Island Donor Retreat During Shutdown as Some Republicans Skip

Organizers cite years-old, nonrefundable contracts to justify proceeding during a shutdown that has furloughed hundreds of thousands of workers.

Sen. Angela Alsobrookswalks out of the Senate Chamber of the US Capitol Building on October 1, 2025.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during a news conference with Republican Congressional leadership outside the US Capitol on October 1, 2025, the first day of the government shutdown.
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Overview

  • The Senate left Washington for the weekend after another failed bid to reopen the government, making votes unlikely as the shutdown extends.
  • The NRSC told invitees the Sea Island weekend was booked years in advance and nonrefundable, with an itinerary of golf and other activities and a price tag of at least $15,000 per attendee.
  • NRSC Chair Tim Scott urged colleagues to attend as Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leader John Thune cautioned about optics, and Sen. John Curtis said he would not go.
  • In statements, the NRSC cast the retreat as necessary and blamed Senate Democrats for the shutdown, also touting what it called record attendance at the event.
  • The DSCC’s Oct. 13 Napa retreat remains scheduled, with Kirsten Gillibrand saying plans could shift and Angela Alsobrooks indicating she will not participate during a shutdown.