Nigeria among countries affected as US Embassies cut routine communications

The United States’ embassies and consulates worldwide have announced a reduction in their public communications due to the ongoing government shutdown in Washington.

In official notices shared across their communication channels, the diplomatic missions explained that they would suspend routine updates and only share information considered urgent, particularly concerning safety and security matters.

“At this time, scheduled passport and visa transit services in the United States and at U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas will continue during the lapse in appropriations as the situation permits,” the notice reads.

“We will not update this account until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information.”

Some of the embassies where the statement was issued include Nigeria, Ghana, London, and Bangladesh.

The announcement comes as parts of the US federal government halt normal operations due to a budget faceoff in congress.

Funding was cut off after President Donald Trump’s Republican Party disagreed with opposition Democrats on a spending bill.

The shutdown occurred at midnight.

The spending dispute is especially tense because Trump has spent the last nine months drastically cutting the size of the federal government.

Trump oversaw the last government shutdown during his first term.

The shutdown began at the end of 2018 and ended in January 2019. Lasting 38 days, it was the longest in US history.

It was only called off after 10 air traffic controllers refused to show up at work, temporarily shutting down La Guardia airport in New York.

Meanwhile, Trump has threatened a mass layoff of workers. This could worsen the current shutdown.