Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) is hosting a watch party on Thursday night for the premiere of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” feting the franchise as the Department of Homeland Security is shut down.
“Bring a friend, bring the drama,” reads the invite, which he posted to social media.
The event, being co-hosted by state Rep. Jackie Baginski and state Sen. Hanna Gallo, will feature speciality cocktails and door prizes.
The latest ‘Real Housewives’ franchise will take the drama to Rhode Island. Bronson Farr/Bravo via Getty Images
Many lawmakers are enjoying the good life in casinos, at Disney World, and on overseas jaunts during their two-week break from Capitol Hill, as hundreds of DHS workers remain unpaid and thousands of Americans endure long wait times at airports.
TSA workers began seeing paychecks for the first time in six weeks on Monday, after President Trump bypassed Congress and signed an executive order to pay them.
It’s unclear how long those funds will last, however.
The DHS funding lapse, which began on Feb. 14, has no end in sight. The Senate passed a funding measure, but it was rejected by the House. Lawmakers then left Washington, D.C. for a two-week break timed with Easter and Passover.
Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) is hosting a watch party on Thursday night for the premiere of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.” Getty Images
Security lines finally began dwindling at airports after TSA agents returned to work. Many had called in sick to protest the lack of pay.
Trump’s order only covered TSA agents. Other DHS workers haven’t been paid since mid-February, including 2,000 employees of the top federal cybersecurity agency, more than 4,000 FEMA workers, and more than 1,000 Coast Guard civilians.
“Congress needs to come back,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday. “Democrats need to fund the Department of Homeland Security.”