As of February 13, 2026, a significant number of House lawmakers have been prevented from attending the Munich Security Conference as an official Congressional Delegation (CODEL). While a massive U.S. presence is still expected in Germany—led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a large Senate group—the House’s official participation has been crippled by domestic legislative standoffs.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Core Conflict: Why the CODEL was Blocked
The decision to withhold official “House Delegation” status stems from a perfect storm of policy disputes and leadership strategy under Speaker Mike Johnson:
- The “Tariff Rebellion”: Speaker Johnson is currently managing a fragile GOP majority facing a “tariff rebellion.” With Democrats—led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others—slated to force votes on resolutions overturning President Trump’s Canada tariffs, leadership has effectively “locked” members in D.C. to ensure they have the votes to protect the administration’s trade agenda.
- DHS Shutdown Threat: A looming Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown (just days away) has led leadership to prioritize “domestic crisis management” over international diplomacy. Authorization for military transport and official funding for the trip was denied to keep members on the floor for emergency funding votes.
- Political Optics & JD Vance: The conference made the controversial decision to invite the far-right AfD party (following public pressure from Vice President JD Vance). This has made the event a political minefield; some House leaders are wary of an “official” presence that might be seen as validating far-right European populism or clashing with the administration’s “America First” posture.
The Logistics of “Unofficial” Attendance
| Feature | Official Delegation (CODEL) | Unofficial/Private Attendance |
| Transportation | Military Aircraft (MilAir) | Commercial flights (Personal/Donor paid) |
| Funding | Taxpayer-funded | Private sponsors or personal funds |
| Representation | Represents the U.S. House | Represents self or specific committees |
| Ethics | Pre-approved by House Rules | Requires individual Ethics Committee clearance |
Who is still going?
Despite the House leadership’s restrictions, the U.S. will still have a massive footprint:
- The Senate: Over a quarter of the U.S. Senate is attending, as the Speaker’s travel restrictions do not apply to the upper chamber.
- The Administration: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the executive delegation.
- Individual Profiles: High-profile members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are attending via private/academic sponsorship to speak on panels regarding the “rise of populism” and offer an alternative vision to the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
