The White House has confirmed that they will suspend all public tours effective this Saturday as part of the $85 billion sequester spending cuts that hit last week.
All visitors hoping to schedule a tour of the White House will now be required to do so through their representatives, reports the New York Times.
White House officials broke the news in an official press statement via email writing, "We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular spring touring season."
President Obama has been accused of cutting the tours as a means to publicize the downsides of the sequestration cuts, but Secret Service rep Max Milien says it could actually cut costs:
"This staffing measure will reduce overtime costs overall and may ultimately reduce the number of potential furloughs necessary by our agency," Milien told the Times.
In the meantime, several House representatives have issued statements welcoming tourists to schedule Capitol visits in lieu of White House tours.
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