The federal government's 13-day shutdown finally came to an end as a mix of relief and frustration filled the halls of the US Capitol this morning, marking its reopening after the longest closure in nearly two decades. For many Americans, especially those living in Washington D.C., the prolonged absence of government services and operations had already begun to take its toll.
Visitors flocked back into the city, eager to experience once again the sights and attractions that were locked down during the shutdown. The Capitol Visitor Center, a hub for tourists and lawmakers alike, was bustling with activity as it resumed its daily tours, while Emancipation Hall was dotted with visitors from all corners of the globe.
The return to normalcy is being felt across the nation's capital, from the iconic landmarks that were shuttered to the city's transportation networks, which have been severely impacted by the shutdown. According to one taxi driver who spent his entire day waiting for a fare, the effects are far-reaching and affect not just government employees but also local businesses that rely on tourism.
For foreign visitors like Melle Jorritsma and his wife Tiny from the Netherlands, who had planned their trip around the US's operating schedule, the shutdown was already a known quantity. The couple expressed a sense of global unity in their wishes for better international cooperation, rather than animosity. However, many Americans remain ambivalent about the federal government's role, with some viewing it as an impediment to progress and others seeing it as essential for ensuring national security.
As the country begins to heal from the prolonged closure, questions linger about what sparked this impasse and whether the US will return to its normal functioning order anytime soon. For now, though, residents of Washington D.C., tourists, and even international visitors can breathe a collective sigh of relief that the federal government is back in business.
Visitors flocked back into the city, eager to experience once again the sights and attractions that were locked down during the shutdown. The Capitol Visitor Center, a hub for tourists and lawmakers alike, was bustling with activity as it resumed its daily tours, while Emancipation Hall was dotted with visitors from all corners of the globe.
The return to normalcy is being felt across the nation's capital, from the iconic landmarks that were shuttered to the city's transportation networks, which have been severely impacted by the shutdown. According to one taxi driver who spent his entire day waiting for a fare, the effects are far-reaching and affect not just government employees but also local businesses that rely on tourism.
For foreign visitors like Melle Jorritsma and his wife Tiny from the Netherlands, who had planned their trip around the US's operating schedule, the shutdown was already a known quantity. The couple expressed a sense of global unity in their wishes for better international cooperation, rather than animosity. However, many Americans remain ambivalent about the federal government's role, with some viewing it as an impediment to progress and others seeing it as essential for ensuring national security.
As the country begins to heal from the prolonged closure, questions linger about what sparked this impasse and whether the US will return to its normal functioning order anytime soon. For now, though, residents of Washington D.C., tourists, and even international visitors can breathe a collective sigh of relief that the federal government is back in business.
13 DAYS IS A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND HAVE THEIR LIVES TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN.
i'm so relieved it's over... i feel for all those people who had to wait or plan around it 
hope they're working together better now 
think about how much homework we missed during that period and how stressed we would've been if it was an actual shutdown 
hope they got their money's worth though 
and yeah, international cooperation would be awesome 
now let's get back to our studies, gotta catch up on those missed assignments 
the shutdown was getting old, like anyone thought it'd take this long for them to get their act together... anyway, glad we don't have to deal with the chaos anymore, but I'm sure there's another crisis just around the corner 
. tourists are already flooding back in, but what about the local businesses that got hurt during the whole thing? 
meanwhile, our gov was just chillin 
like, what's the point of even having a shutdown if we're still gonna play with the clock 
and then expect everything to go back to normal right away? 
.
I also found out that 70% of government employees rely on credit cards to cover expenses during a shutdown. Ouch, talk about financial stress 
.
, but i'm glad it's over now. i do feel bad for all those people who had to scramble their plans 'cause of it tho 
. and yeah, the government shutdown highlights how dependent we are on them, whether u love 'em or hate 'em, they're like the invisible glue that holds our country together 
. but seriously, what's up with the US being one of the only developed countries where gov't shutdowns are so common? 
... and now that it's back on, i hope everyone can just move forward and not dwell too much on it 
. anyway, glad the capital is back open for business, let's get back to normal life 
!
. But seriously, let's focus on unity and cooperation instead of bickering 
. It's wild that some people are already saying the government shutdown is an impediment to progress 
. When will we ever get used to the drama? 