WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama is shortening his trip to Asia this week amid the partial shutdown of the U.S. government, canceling stops in Malaysia and the Philippines.
The White House said Wednesday that it couldn't get personnel in place to handle the president's visits to those countries, citing the shutdown, which has forced agencies to furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
"Logistically, it was not possible to go ahead with these trips in the face of a government shutdown," said Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council. She said the "completely avoidable shutdown is setting back our ability to promote U.S. exports and advance U.S. leadership in the largest emerging region in the world."
Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to the countries in the president's place. Ms. Hayden said the White House is still evaluating whether Mr. Obama will follow through on plans to travel to Brunei and Indonesia later this week.
Mr. Obama called the prime minister of Malaysia and president of the Philippines to say he wouldn't be traveling to their countries because of the government shutdown, the White House said. Mr. Obama committed to traveling to both countries at an unspecified later date.
The trips were intended as part of his plan to shore up ties with Asia. In Indonesia, Mr. Obama is expected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
The government shutdown, which began Tuesday, is forcing federal agencies to place more than 800,000 workers onto temporary leave and suspend a range of services. On Tuesday, some White House staff could be seen leaving the White House as furloughs began.
The federal shutdown, the first in nearly two decades, occurred because Congress failed to approve legislation to fund the government in the new fiscal year, which began Tuesday.
Funding plans have become entangled in a debate between the two political parties about the new federal health law, the Affordable Care Act. Democrats and Mr. Obama support the law, while Republicans want to repeal it or scale it back.
No signs of a quick resolution have arisen, as both sides continue to place blame on each other for the impasse and have set no timetable for negotiations.
The White House said Wednesday that it couldn't get personnel in place to handle the president's visits to those countries, citing the shutdown, which has forced agencies to furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
"Logistically, it was not possible to go ahead with these trips in the face of a government shutdown," said Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council. She said the "completely avoidable shutdown is setting back our ability to promote U.S. exports and advance U.S. leadership in the largest emerging region in the world."
Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to the countries in the president's place. Ms. Hayden said the White House is still evaluating whether Mr. Obama will follow through on plans to travel to Brunei and Indonesia later this week.
Mr. Obama called the prime minister of Malaysia and president of the Philippines to say he wouldn't be traveling to their countries because of the government shutdown, the White House said. Mr. Obama committed to traveling to both countries at an unspecified later date.
The trips were intended as part of his plan to shore up ties with Asia. In Indonesia, Mr. Obama is expected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.
The government shutdown, which began Tuesday, is forcing federal agencies to place more than 800,000 workers onto temporary leave and suspend a range of services. On Tuesday, some White House staff could be seen leaving the White House as furloughs began.
The federal shutdown, the first in nearly two decades, occurred because Congress failed to approve legislation to fund the government in the new fiscal year, which began Tuesday.
Funding plans have become entangled in a debate between the two political parties about the new federal health law, the Affordable Care Act. Democrats and Mr. Obama support the law, while Republicans want to repeal it or scale it back.
No signs of a quick resolution have arisen, as both sides continue to place blame on each other for the impasse and have set no timetable for negotiations.