Newsroom
The U.S. Embassy in Cyprus announced that its social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, "X") will not be updated regularly during the U.S. government shutdown, except for urgent safety and security information.
Despite the budget impasse in Washington, the embassy said scheduled passport and visa services in Nicosia, as well as at other U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, will continue “as the situation permits.” The Department of State has urged travelers to check travel.state.gov
for the latest updates.
The shutdown, triggered by a failure of Republican and Democratic lawmakers to agree on funding, has forced about 40% of the U.S. federal workforce, roughly 750,000 people, into unpaid leave. Essential services such as border security, air traffic control and law enforcement will continue, but employees will work without pay until the standoff ends.
Past shutdowns have caused ripple effects for international travelers, including delays in passport processing and longer airport waits due to staffing shortages. While U.S. embassies remain open, prolonged shutdowns can strain services.
Other sectors in the United States are bracing for widespread disruption, from national parks and museums closing to food assistance programs running out of funds. The Smithsonian museums and National Zoo in Washington, D.C., will stay open temporarily, but non-essential features such as zoo webcams have already been suspended.
With information from BBC and U.S. Embassy in Cyprus.
