White House Cancels Tours: Sequestration Cost Cutting Measures Bite
The White House will be canceling its tours as effective of Sunday March 9, 2013 in a move to cut costs as a series of wider forced cuts hits the entire federal government.
An automated message has been placed on the White House's visitor center's hotline on Tuesday telling callers of the cancellation.
The message states: "Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration we regret to inform that White House tours will be canceled effective Saturday March 9, 2013 until further notice. Unfortunately we will not be able to reschedule affected tours."
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According to Fox News, a White House spokesman has stated that this is the first consequence of the forced budget cuts on the White House.
It is also believed that the cuts will hit on a much wider scale, and Secret Service staffing and staff at the office that processes visitor names will also be hit with reductions.
An email notifying about the tour cancellations has also been sent to lawmakers on Capital Hill, which states:
ATTN Interested Parties,
Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House Tours will be canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013 until further notice. Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours.
We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular spring touring season. For updates regarding this situation, please contact the White House Visitors Office 24 Hour Hotline at (202) 456-7041.
Sincerely,
White House Visitors Office
