The U.S. government shutdown had an instant impact on two of the world’s top tourist destinations: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
The National Park Service announced that both New York sites would be closed Saturday “due to a lapse in appropriations.” Late Friday, the Senate failed to approve legislation to keep the government from shutting down after the midnight deadline.
READ MORE: U.S. government has shut down: Why and now what?
The park service said the closure of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island was effective immediately and until further notice.
WATCH: Here’s what happens during a U.S. government shutdown
For ticket refunds, visitors were instructed to contact the Statue Cruises company that runs ferries to the statue and Ellis Island, the historic entry point in New York Harbor for immigrants to the United States that is now a museum.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo vowed to find state money to reopen the Statue of Liberty.
Cuomo called the statue “a symbol of America” whose closure reflects a government trying “to kick our immigrants.”
WATCH: Chuck Schumer calls government shutdown the ‘Trump shutdown’
He says a state-level plan is in the works to reopen it.
Comments