While US politicians fight over dollars, visitors, including Aussies, are left wondering why the heck they can’t visit the Statue of Liberty.
If you’re headed to the US this week, you may be sorely disappointed to learn that some of the major landmarks have been closed as part of a partial government shutdown.
What triggers a government shut down? Good question. Basically it is a result of the US senators failing pass funding for government spending. This means federal agencies are essentially operating without a budget.
Until this can be sorted hundreds of thousands of government employees deemed ‘non-essential’ are being placed on temporary unpaid leave.
Luckily, air travel is not effected as the front line staff in aviation are considered essential and will continue to be paid.
Attractions, on the other hand, are a different story with reports that the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were turning away visitors in New York on over the weekend.
According to The Independent, closures are also set to affect affect the National Zoo in Washington DC, the John F Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library in Boston and The Harry. S Truman Library and Museum in Independence in Missouri.
There is also uncertainty surrounding visitor access to the country’s National Parks.
Some parks in the National Park System may have areas that remain accessible to visitors; however access may change without notice, and some parks are closed completely,” The US National Park Service said in an official statement on its website.
“Be aware that there will be no National Park Service-provided visitor services, including restrooms, trash collection, facilities, or road maintenance,” they continued.
It is unclear at this stage how long the shutdown is expected to last. It has been five years since the last government shutdown in 2013. It lasted 16 days and saw 800,000 government workers put on temporary leave.
READ: United has take-off! Flights from Sydney to Houston
READ: 12 spots you need to see in New York