A group of enthusiastic 10- and 11-year-old students from Georgia faced disappointment on Wednesday as their much-anticipated tour of the US Congress was abruptly canceled due to a government shutdown. The shutdown, which began at midnight, has led to the closure of numerous federal departments and agencies, leaving thousands of public sector workers furloughed. This occurred after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a funding deal to sustain government operations.
Cami Hamlin, the principal of Springdale Elementary School, expressed her frustration, noting the irony of the situation. ‘It’s unfortunate as we’ve been teaching the kids they’ve got to manage their own budget,’ she remarked, standing in front of the Congress building with dozens of other tourists. The shutdown, triggered by a political deadlock between President Donald Trump’s Republicans and opposing Democrats, has particularly impacted Washington, D.C., where the federal government is the largest employer and operates many popular tourist attractions.
Key landmarks such as the Washington Monument were closed to visitors on Wednesday due to staff shortages. However, institutions like the Smithsonian, which manages museums and the National Zoo, will remain open until Monday using prior-year funds. Tourists like Martine Ruaud from Bordeaux, France, expressed their disappointment. ‘There is so much to see and it’s annoying if tourists can’t come because there’s no staff,’ she said, adding, ‘It would be a shame if the country closed itself off.’
This shutdown marks the first since a record 35-day stalemate in 2019 during Trump’s first term. It comes as the president seeks to advance a hard-right agenda opposed by Democrats, particularly focusing on expiring healthcare subsidies that Democrats want reinstated in the federal budget. Visitors like Terese Johnston from California voiced their frustration with the political impasse. ‘I think our government needs to learn how to work together for the people,’ she said. ‘This should have been resolved a long time ago, and we should never come to this position.’