White House canceled 50-person Interior Department party over pandemic concerns: report

The White House scrapped a 50-person Interior Department party that had been planned to celebrate Secretary Deb Haaland’s confirmation, Politico reported Friday.

Two sources told the news outlet that Interior chief of staff Jennifer Van der Heide wanted the event for the secretary’s friends and supporters, but that the White House’s Office of Cabinet Affairs canceled it before they were invited. 

A proposed catering menu seen by Politico said that the gathering was expected to have 50 attendees.

The White House officials reportedly raised concerns about both COVID-19 and the optics of such a celebration. 

Spokespeople for the Interior Department and the White House declined The Hill’s request for comment.

An Interior spokesperson told Politico that “junior staff made soft inquiries for something that never happened.”

“That the new team conducted research and gathered estimates for potential future events and opportunities should not be shocking. There was no event at Interior,” the spokesperson said, adding that agency leadership has “diligently observed COVID protocols both in and out of the building.”

Catering was reportedly expected to be provided by New Mexico-style restaurant Anita’s of Northern Virginia, a nod to Haaland growing up in the state. 

The restaurant’s catering director Tiffany Tellez told the news outlet that she was contacted by a lower-level employee about catering earlier this month.

“She told me what she liked, made her a quote and recommended some stuff. She told me she was going to get some delivery instructions for me, but then she canceled before she gave me anything concrete,” Tellez said, according to Politico. 

She added that she was later told the event was canceled and that the 50-person event was too large.