White House Restarting Public Tours

The White House is moving past what became a symbol of vindictive pettiness earlier this year when it sought the repeal of sequestration.

White House tours are back starting Nov. 5. Tours of the garden resume Oct. 26. The administration cancelled the White House tours claiming the government could not afford it given the sequester spending reductions.

However, the continuing resolution agreed to Wednesday to reopen the government, increase government borrowing and continue Obamacare still maintained the sequester-level funding. Maintaining the spending levels from the 2011 Budget Control Act was in fact the only thing Republican leaders were able to point to in what was a major loss.

Below is the public announcement from the White House.

WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES PUBLIC TOURS

WASHINGTON, DC – The White House is pleased to announce the resumption of a limited schedule of East Wing and Executive Residence tours, beginning on November 5th. Additionally, the White House will be opening its gardens and grounds to visitors on October 26th and 27th.

Members of the public interested in scheduling a tour of the East Wing and Executive Residence should contact their Member of Congress.

For a tour of the gardens and grounds on Saturday, October 26th from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and Sunday, October 27th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, members of the public can obtain a free, timed ticket at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion located at 15th and E Streets on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 7:30 AM.  Tickets will be distributed -- one ticket per person (including small children) -- on a first-come, first-served basis.

During this event, visitors can see the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden and South Lawn of the White House.  Additionally, the White House Kitchen Garden – the first vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden – will be accessible to guests.

For more information about tours of the White House, please visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events

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