Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D-WI), his wife, several security officers, and his staff went to France and Germany earlier in 2025 on a goodwill mission that reportedly cost taxpayers $160,000, according to public records obtained by State Senator Cory Tomczyk (R-WI, Mosinee).
In a trip being dubbed “Luxury Travel on the Public,” the state sent the group, along with former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes and WEDC staff to Germany and France earlier this year.
The public records documents revealed several high ticket items including a trip chauffeur and limousine service for $69,000, almost $19,000 for consulting fees and printed materials related to the trip, and a $3000 welcome dinner at a Zucker restaurant in Braunschweig, Germany. The Governor’s lavish trip promised positive trade outcomes, but the results have been immeasurable. (RELATED: Nick Shirley’s Explosive Exposé: Billion-Dollar Somali Fraud Scam in Minnesota)
In a public statement released from Sen. Tomczyk’s office, he criticized the efficacy and ethics of the mission stating “The Governor claims to be worried about kids going hungry, but based off his dinner tab, he could not care less,” He cited a lack of transparency in Evers’ administration and demanded answers for taxpayers, “This was not economic development; it was luxury travel.”
The trip has sparked outrage from Wisconsin natives and residents for the frivolous, exorbitant spending. (RELATED: Barnes PAC Spent Heavily on Overhead, Gave Far Less to Candidates Than Peers)
Former WEDC Secretary Hughes resigned from Gov. Evers’ administration earlier this year after serving six years in the state to launch her own bid for the 2026 Democratic primary for governor’s race. In her exit, Gov. Evers praised Hughes for her record investments in small business and the WEDC’s multibillion dollar partnerships with corporations like Eli Lilly and Company, Kikkoman, and Microsoft. He appointed John W. Miller to serve as new secretary of WEDC on December 3, 2025.
