Time seemed to stand still and normal activity at the Capitol came to a screeching halt as lawmakers, attendees and the press gazed at the sun.
Lawmakers, usually divided by political affiliations, were united, at least momentarily, by an event that humanity has revered for millennia: a solar eclipse.
As the moon rotated until it was positioned in front of the sun, hundreds of people remained outside the Capitol, many of them with their mouths open, enjoying the rare celestial spectacle.
Although Congress has not been in session for the past two weeks – during the Easter and Easter recess – work, apparently, could wait a little longer.
Legislative battles over foreign aid funding, the ongoing border security crisis and the TikTok ban may have been important weeks ago, but they apparently weren’t on Monday.
“We have a rising sun,” Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.V., told DailyMail.com as he watched the sun. “I’ve never seen the sun in these conditions before.”
Two Democratic senators left the Capitol on Monday to observe the solar eclipse.
A light layer of clouds in Washington, DC did not totally interfere with people’s viewing of Monday’s solar eclipse.
He said the weather provided “really excellent conditions” for the solar eclipse and that it appeared as “a reverse of the night.”
“First and last Eclipse Committee meeting,” joked Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., in an X post accompanied by a photo of several lawmakers in goggles staring at the sun with their mouths wide open. .
He was joined by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Jeanne Shaheen. DN.H.
Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, told DailyMail.com that he saw a crescent moon breaking into the space normally occupied by the sun.
It was the first time I had seen a solar eclipse.
For many viewers at the Capitol Monday was also probably the first time they saw a solar eclipse.
There were audible ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ as the moon entered totality – the brief moment when the lunar body is at its peak blocking the bright sun.
Many began to clap as they looked up, similar to the kind of applause you would hear after a long flight or at the end of a gripping movie.
Special glasses dotted the faces of the spectators outside.
There were dozens of flimsy paper frames filled with black film-like lenses, almost everyone had them.
Inside, however, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., delivered remarks to the floor.
It may have been one of the least-watched speeches ever given by the veteran Democratic leader, as much of his normal audience was outside watching the eclipse.
But what the powerful leader said became secondary after staring at the sun, even after a two-week break.
However, after making remarks on the floor urging President Mike Johnson to approve aid for Ukraine, Schumer was able to glimpse the eclipse from his office balcony.
He, like many other Capitol Hill staffers, didn’t want to miss out on the fun because of his work obligations.
Senator Manchin applauded as the moon moved in front of the sun on Monday.
Senator Durbin looks toward the sun as he watches the total solar eclipse outside the Capitol.
Senate pages wear eclipse glasses as they watch the moon partially covering the sun during a total solar eclipse on Monday.
Congressional aides stand on the steps of the Senate and look toward the sun for a glimpse of the eclipse.
Americans also flocked to the nearby National Mall to witness the rare event.
The brief respite from routine was celebrated among the Capitol crowd, with many mentioning how the rare experience was worth the equally brief break from work.
As the moon and sun continued on opposite paths, the area began to shine brighter and the can’t-miss moment came and went.
The crowd of Capitol employees bowed their heads, removed their paper cups, and began shuffling inside.
The next time they will have a similar pause at the solar equinox will be in 2044, much to their chagrin.