Due to political wrangling between the Democrats and Republicans in the United States, the entire government machinery is shutting down. While essential services such as air traffic controllers and federal law enforcement agencies will remain functional, major tourist attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, will shut down.
The Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC generate more than 30 million visits every year and from Tuesday, October 1 2013, they will close their doors. The Museum of Natural History which attracts over 6 million visits each year and the ever popular Air & Space Museum which brings in children and school groups besides space enthusiasts to rack in over 5 million visits will all be shut down. Yellowstone National Park in California and other national parks across the United States will also shut down.
The last time a massive government shutdown occured in the US was in 1995-96 and lasted for 28 days. If you are planning a visit to the US and need a visa, you will be happy to learn that US Consulates overseas will continue to process visas as these are funded by the visa application fee. If you are about to leave, you may want to postpone your trip if you were planning to major tourist attractions and parks.
