Was Suspending White House Tours More Political than Practical?

Amid warnings that sequestration would have dire consequences, efforts to stop it were not successful and it went into effect March 1, 2013. The impact is now beginning to seep through with various cuts beginning to hit the headlines.

According to USA Today, a source of irritation to some is the fact that the White House announced the cancellation of public tours. A recording on the White House visitors’ information line announces the following:

Due to staffing reductions resulting from sequestration, we regret to inform you that White House Tours will be canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013, until further notice. Unfortunately, we will not be able to reschedule affected tours ... We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular spring touring season.

Republicans have called the move “childish,” according to USA Today, and have attributed the cancellation to the White House trying to make a point after warning that the $85 billion in automatic budget cuts over the next seven months were going to hurt. A U.S. Secret Service spokesman, however, said it was necessary in order to assign uniformed officers to more essential services.

Do you think programs such as the White House tours are a good example of just where cuts should be made? What programs would you like to see cut?