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When Speaker of the House Mike Johnson ordered members of Congress to return to Washington, DC, so they could vote on ending the government shutdown, lawmakers found themselves up against the same air travel chaos that Americans have been facing for days.
Rather than risk a flight getting canceled or delayed, Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin had another idea. He posted a video on X Monday in which he can be seen bundled up atop a “bitchin’ Harley Davidson” and parked alongside the Mississippi River.
“Because they shut down the government — the Democrats — flights are too unreliable, so I’m going to ride my motorcycle,” he said. “It’s going to take me about 16 hours or so. It’s going to be a little chilly. But I will do my duty. I’m getting back to DC. We’re going to get this country back on track.”
Van Orden is among the lawmakers scrambling to get back to DC after Johnson ordered their return so the chamber could vote on ending the government shutdown.
The Senate passed a bill to end the shutdown on Sunday. The bill now heads to the House and could be voted on as early as Wednesday. If approved, it would head to President Donald Trump for signing.
Heading back to DC to get the country moving again after the #SchumerShutdown.
Not gonna lie, it will be a bit chilly. pic.twitter.com/nNb2Ixj2eR— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) November 10, 2025
Due to the shutdown and air traffic control shortages, the Federal Aviation Administration last week ordered a reduction in flight capacity that has affected the travel plans of thousands of Americans.
“Air travel has been grinded to a halt in many places and, as of Sunday, nearly half of all domestic flights — US flights — were either canceled or delayed,” Johnson said Monday, adding, “I’m stating the obvious to all my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats in the House, you need to begin right now returning to the hill.”
Van Orden has been posting video updates throughout his road trip. He stopped at a store in Illinois to get gloves and also stopped at an Arby’s at a gas station in Ohio.
In one video, he said he was about to ride through Chicago on a motorcycle at night wearing a Green Bay Packers hoodie and nodded to the team’s rivalry with the Chicago Bears. “So if I don’t get ahold of you in a little bit, call the Coast Guard, will ya?” he said.
Van Orden is not the only lawmaker who decided to skip air travel altogether and hit the road.
Two Republicans from the South carpooled on a long road trip back to DC: Reps. Trent Kelly of Mississippi and Rick Crawford of Arkansas.
Quick stop in Crossville, TN at the always reliable Buc-ee’s with my friend @RepTrentKelly as we head back to D.C. to end the Democrat shutdown. 8 more hours to go! pic.twitter.com/9eSIw40dRr
— Rep. Rick Crawford (@RepRickCrawford) November 11, 2025
“Quick stop in Crossville, TN at the always reliable Buc-ee’s with my friend @RepTrentKelly as we head back to D.C. to end the Democrat shutdown,” Crawford said in a post on X Tuesday, along with a couple of photos of the lawmakers at the famous gas station chain.
“8 more hours to go!”
Representatives for Van Orden, Kelly, and Crawford did not respond to requests for comment.
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