For travelers hoping for a glimpse of the president, tours of the White House resumed on Tuesday, when President Obama and Michelle Obama surprised visitors in the Blue Room, according to CBS News.
White House tours were stopped for seven months due to a suspension resulting from government spending cuts, a decision made by the Secret Service. Now, visitors will be able to see the East Wing and the Executive Residence. The White House grounds and gardens were re-opened to the public last week.
"We just re-opened tours at the White House & I'm about to greet folks right now," Michelle Obama announced on Twitter, where she urged people to watch a live feed of the Obamas greeting the White House guests. "Tune in...This is going to be fun!" The Obamas hugged a line if visitors, and the Obama's dogs, Sunny and Bo, even joined them.
"It's good to have you back," Obama told one of the first visitors. He also asked a little boy where he was from, and when he said Massachusetts, Obama asked him, "Does that make you a Red Sox fan? ...That was a good series."
The tours are only resuming on a limited basis. They are available three days a week, where they used to be available five days a week. The tours will continue through January 15, when the guaranteed federal funding runs out. At that point, the tours may be suspended again.
"Last year's sequestration came midway through the fiscal year, and we were unable to adjust or re-allocate remaining funding to continue tours while still ensuring enough funding to continue tours while still ensuring enough funding remained to meet all operational needs and avoid furloughing our employees," Brian Leary, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said in a statement after the announcement last month that the tours would be resuming.
Visitors interested in touring the White House should request a public tour from their member of Congress.
Video footage of the Obamas greeting visitors.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
