CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives have postponed their legislative retreat, which was scheduled for next week at the Greenbrier resort, due to the partial shutdown of the federal government.
The Congressional Institute announced the decision Wednesday. Mark Strand, president of the organization, said the body and House leaders agreed lawmakers need to be focused on ending the shutdown.
“We look forward to rescheduling this important conference later in the year once this budget impasse has ended, and the federal government is back serving our citizens,” he added.
Around 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or are working without pay because of the shutdown.
The three-day retreat was supposed to begin next Wednesday. Republican lawmakers from both chambers held a joint retreat last year at the White Sulphur Springs hotel. Only House Republicans will take part in this conference; the Senate held a private, one-day retreat on Jan. 17 in Washington, D.C.