Top House Republican leaders have imposed a three‑month ban on Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s participation in taxpayer‑funded foreign congressional delegations, following what Punchbowl News reports was an “alcohol‑related episode” during an August CODEL trip to Mexico. The decision, made by high-ranking GOP figures, is unusually punitive and marks a rare instance of formal internal discipline in Congress. According to Punchbowl, the move came after an internal review and reflects serious enough concerns for leadership to limit his role in foreign policy travel.
The catalyst for the suspension was an incident in Mexico: Crenshaw was allegedly drinking with Mexican officials when one of them made a crude joke about a woman present, making her uncomfortable. Crenshaw responded by toasting to the remarks — behavior that leadership found unacceptable. House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Rick Crawford reportedly pressed Speaker Mike Johnson to remove Crenshaw entirely from the committee over the episode. Johnson declined, but reportedly supported a more modest punishment: barring Crenshaw from international travel under the auspices of the Intelligence Committee.
Crenshaw strongly disputes the reporting. He has dismissed the story as “clickbait,” arguing that what happened was simply “me doing a toast with Mexican generals” rather than any major alcohol-fueled misconduct. He also insists that the October trip he was scheduled to join was canceled because of the government shutdown — not because of any ban on his travel. According to him, the House Ethics Committee had already cleared this planned trip in advance.
But Punchbowl News and its reporter Jake Sherman have pushed back against Crenshaw’s denials. Sherman clarified that the 90-day restriction applies only to taxpayer-funded, committee-sanctioned travel, not all foreign trips. He argues that Crenshaw is conflating two different classes of travel: trips funded by outside organizations (which Ethics reviews) and CODELs paid for by congressional appropriations. From the GOP leadership’s perspective, this restriction was seen not just as disciplinary but as a way to address a more serious worry about Crenshaw’s judgment in diplomatic settings.
The reported suspension also has broader political implications. Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL and one-eyed war veteran, has built much of his political brand on military credentials and foreign‑policy expertise. This ban limits his ability to participate in high-profile international delegations, reducing his visibility on national security issues — a core part of his identity in Congress. Moreover, the move underscores deepening tensions between Crenshaw and other GOP figures, especially within the Intelligence Committee. Reports suggest that Crenshaw and Crawford had been clashing over counterintelligence policy before this incident.
At the same time, this controversy comes as Crenshaw is facing a growing primary challenge. Conservative activists and politicians, including Texas State Rep. Steve Toth, have questioned whether Crenshaw has remained loyal to core conservative values — criticizing his positions on national security, spending, and rhetoric. The travel ban could potentially weaken Crenshaw’s standing among his base, particularly because it raises questions about both his personal conduct and his standing in key policy circles. Whether this affects his future leadership role in the Intelligence Committee or his leverage in foreign policy areas remains to be seen. For now, though, the three-month restriction is a clear signal: Crenshaw’s behavior on that Mexico trip was taken seriously — at least by some in his own party — and GOP leadership is willing to quietly—but firmly—enforce discipline when it believes he stepped out of line.
