Ted Cruz Photographed at Airport Amid Historic Government Shutdown
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been spotted waiting to board a flight at Fort Lauderdale airport in South Florida, as the ongoing partial government shutdown continues to strand passengers and leave federal workers without pay. The sighting, captured by TMZ on Tuesday, shows the MAGA lawmaker accompanied by police and security guards at the Spring Break hotspot.
Lawmakers on Recess While Federal Workers Suffer
The images emerged after members of Congress were sent on recess amid the Homeland Security shutdown, which has now become the longest in U.S. history. Approximately 100,000 Department of Homeland Security employees face the prospect of going without pay until summer, while passengers at some airports have reported waiting in security lines for up to five hours, causing many to miss flights.
It was not immediately clear what Cruz was doing in Fort Lauderdale or his destination. TMZ reports he traveled there after attending the CPAC convention in Dallas last week. While Cruz is not the only member of Congress seen relaxing during the shutdown turmoil, the timing of his travels has drawn particular scrutiny.
"Cancun Cruz" History of Controversial Travel
This is not the first occasion that Cruz's vacation timing has been questioned. He earned the nickname "Cancun Cruz" in 2021 after traveling to the Mexican holiday destination during a harsh winter storm that left thousands of Texans without heat or water. Cruz later apologized, calling it "obviously a mistake."
Last July, Cruz was in Greece when deadly floods struck his home state, though his team stated he promptly returned upon hearing the news. The Independent has contacted Cruz's office for comment regarding his current Florida trip.
Other Lawmakers Also Vacationing During Crisis
Senator Lindsey Graham was also photographed at Disney World, where he was seen with a bubble wand toy, dining at Chef Mickey's, and standing in line for Space Mountain. The South Carolina senator defended his trip, telling TMZ he met friends after "meeting in South Florida on Friday with Trump official Steve Witkoff and others to talk about the possibility of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel."
Graham claimed, "I voted seven times to fully fund the government. Call a Democrat," adding he had returned to his home state by Sunday.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia of California faced criticism for a trip to Las Vegas, where TMZ obtained photos of him sitting in a casino. Garcia later explained he was visiting his father.
No Clear Resolution in Sight
Lawmakers are not due to return to Washington, D.C. until April 14, with internal Republican divisions and the two-week congressional recess leaving no clear path to resolving the shutdown. While the rest of the federal government remains open, the Homeland Security shutdown continues to create significant disruptions.
The TMZ outlet has been publishing photos of various lawmakers on vacation as the shutdown impacts deepen, highlighting the contrast between political recess and public hardship.
