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Only 50 House members may get to attend President Joe Biden‘s first State of the Union address as the Omicron surge has resulted in 24 lawmakers getting COVID in one month.
On Tuesday, Axios reported that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told colleagues that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned him that she may limit the number of attendees from the House to 25 members per party.
Biden will deliver his State of the Union address on March 1.
President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address could look similar to his first joint address before Congress in April of last year, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi telling House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy she might cap House attendance at 50 members
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) warned House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (right) that he may only be able to invite 25 members of his caucus to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address
McCarthy told Republican leadership about Pelosi’s plans – and they were frustrated by them.
McCarthy pointed out that Democrats fly on airplanes with more people than who will be allowed to sit in the grand House chamber.
McCarthy’s spokesperson declined to comment to Axios.
A spokesperson for Pelosi told the publication said that no final decision has been made.
The spokesperson said her office will ‘work closely with the Office of the Attending Physician to accommodate as many Member requests as safely possible.’
Last year, Biden’s first joint address before Congress in April – which wasn’t considered a ‘State of the Union’ because he was only months into the job – was capped at an audience of 200, also due to COVID.
A year later, his first State of the Union could have a similar footprint.
Beyond House members, senators, Supreme Court justices and Cabinet officials generally attend.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sits in the House chamber for President Joe Biden’s first joint address before Congress, where attendance was capped at 200
Historically, the first lady also brings a number of guests holding a reception beforehand.
Lawmakers generally got some additional tickets for guests too.
News of a pared-down State of the Union address comes on the heels of the House’s No. 2 Democrat, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, announcing he contracted COVID-19.
On Tuesday, Hoyer becomes the 20th House member to test positive for the coronavirus this year.
Four senators also tested positive for COVID-19 in January.
In December, 11 House members were infected, along with three senators, according to reporting from PBS Newshour.
There are 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 senators.
Capitol Hill saw a widespread outbreak as the Omicron variant surged – and at one point Washington, D.C. was the country’s epicenter.
