TMZ offered an update this week on its quest to showcase the travels of members of Congress happening during the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.
With the Senate skipping town after passing a bill that failed to address the full funding of ICE and CBP operations, TMZ’s Harvey Levin vowed to expose the actions of those who failed to do their jobs while many federal workers went unpaid.
“It outraged us so much we wanted to use our platforms to show how Congress — Dems AND Republicans — have betrayed us,” Levin said. “We spontaneously came up with the idea to juxtapose members of Congress on their Spring Break against federal workers who are losing their homes, their cars, their livelihoods. Short story — our DC presence will sometimes be fun, sometimes intensely serious.”
In the update, Levin spoke about 30 members of Congress touring a castle in Scotland, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) visiting a “swanky hotel” in Southern California.
TMZ continued investigating and now has evidence of 30 members of Congress vacationing touring a castle in Scotland while everyone has to deal with the shutdown
“Guess who’s footing the bill? YOU”
TMZ yet again flips the script and directly calls out Democrats, and all of… pic.twitter.com/uVKEDo3Wnm
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) April 3, 2026
“We got pictures of Senator Cory Booker in Los Angeles at a swanky hotel having breakfast,” Levin said. “Apparently he’s here for a book signing in Santa Monica on Friday night. So it looks like he had just worked out. It seems like he’s with his wife — they had just worked out and they were chowing down at the London Hotel Restaurant in West Hollywood.”
Cory Booker https://t.co/amVVUb7GOS
— Jammles (@jammles9) April 3, 2026
He spoke about how “outraged” people are, saying there are “rumblings” that the Senate may cut short its two-week Spring Break.
“Maybe they are hearing your anger. Maybe not,” Levin added.
But don’t hold your breath with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announcing this week that the House would accept the Senate deal on funding DHS. Republicans will look to approve funding for ICE and CBP in a separate reconciliation package.
Here are some of the other lawmakers TMZ has encountered during the break:
🚨 JUST IN: Lindsey Graham was spotted walking around the Magic Kingdom at Disney World ALONE while carrying a bubble wand, per TMZ
WTF?
Why is a gay, childless, septuagenarian walking around Disney solo? Especially while carrying a child’s toy.
This is disturbing. pic.twitter.com/JoZZUYI9SL
— Henry (@HenryFrank02) April 2, 2026
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also booked it out of D.C., hopping a plane Friday AM at Reagan National Airport.
🎥: Fox News pic.twitter.com/lurX3VOOIZ
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 27, 2026
Senator John Barrasso Pictured in Airport Amid Shutdown After Leaving D.C. https://t.co/qIcsUKcgaj pic.twitter.com/60WIGHfnTQ
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 29, 2026
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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