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House Speaker’s Aide Scrapped Luxury European Staff Trip Amid Midterm Scrutiny
By Drooid · · How we work
Planned Luxury Staff Delegation to Europe Canceled
A senior policy and tax adviser to House Speaker Mike Johnson was authorized to lead a week-long bipartisan staff delegation to Italy and France in late October, roughly two weeks before the November midterm elections. The draft itinerary, circulated to U.S. Embassy personnel in Rome and Paris, listed visits to a Ferrari factory near Bologna, a Barilla processing plant in Parma, luxury-goods firms in Milan or Florence, and day trips to France’s Champagne region and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The memo described the mission as a fact-finding effort on the impact of U.S. tariffs and taxes. After reporters inquired about the plans, Johnson’s office abruptly canceled the trip, citing an unspecified scheduling conflict.
Context of Congressional Staff Trips and Trade Policy
Congressional delegations (CODELs) and staff delegations (STAFFDELs) are routine mechanisms for members and their aides to meet foreign government and industry officials. Johnson’s office defended the practice, noting that senior staff from both parties regularly travel to allied nations to discuss trade, taxes, and related policy issues. The proposed itinerary was framed against ongoing debate over President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which remain a prominent election issue.
Official Statements from the Speaker’s Office
The statement added that trip schedules often shift up until departure and that the cancellation resulted from a conflict, without specifying the source of funding or any external sponsor.
Criticism from Political Observers
Several commentators labeled the planned itinerary “tone-deaf” and “blatantly a luxury trip.” Political strategist Kate deGruyter argued that the delegation was unnecessary, while senior aide Rahmon Ross, a staffer for Representative Jennifer McClellan, described the plan as “f— insane,” contrasting it with his own recent staff trips focused on intensive policy meetings. Political analyst Tom Sherwood mocked the effort as “Grifters Gone Wild.”
Itinerary Highlights
- Ferrari factory near Bologna, Italy
- Barilla pasta and cheese processor in Parma, Italy
- Luxury-goods companies in Milan or Florence, Italy
- Champagne region excursions and OECD meeting in Paris, France
The cancellation underscores heightened scrutiny of congressional travel expenses as the 2024 midterms approach.
