Major government-run attractions including museums and monuments were forced to close and staff placed on temporarily unpaid leave over the weekend after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree upon the 2018 budget.
The Democratic leadership agreed to back the spending bill in Washington on Monday (January 22) after accepting promises from Republicans for a debate later on the future of young illegal immigrants.
The bill passed in the Senate by 81-18 and the House of Representatives by 266-150.
Among the attractions affected by the shutdown was the Statue of Liberty, which reopened yesterday after New York City officials agreed a funding agreement with the State of New York.
A number of other US tourist hotspots such as the Grand Canyon, Alcatraz Island and Yellowstone National Park, tweeted over the weekend that although some areas would be accessible, there would be no National Park Service-provided services available.
There has yet to be an update following last night’s funding vote.
https://twitter.com/AlcatrazIsland/status/954856019867271168
