White House tours halted, there's just no money for them

By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Published: Mar 6, 2013 at 12:43 PM PDT
White House tours halted, there's just no money for them
In this March 4, 2013, photo, The White House is seen through a chain-link fence where the inaugural reviewing stand once stood in Washington. Automatic spending cuts that took effect last Friday are expected to touch a vast range of government services. The Obama administration is canceling tours of the White House beginning Saturday, March 9, citing staffing reductions prompted by automatic budget cuts that began to take effect last Friday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON (AP) — No more chance sightings of first dog Bo?

The Obama administration is canceling tours of the White House beginning Saturday, citing staffing reductions prompted by automatic budget cuts that began to take effect last Friday.

The White House is a popular destination for tourists, especially during the spring break season.

Callers to the White House Visitors Office information line are told that tours already planned will not be rescheduled.

Officials said the cancellations would not affect the White House Easter Egg Roll on April 1.

The automatic spending cuts — known in Washington parlance as the sequester — are hitting a myriad of accounts from the Pentagon to education grants.

The White House said the tours would be canceled until further notice.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.