Government Shutdown Silences US Embassies on Social Media

The federal government shutdown forced U.S. embassies across the world to go silent on social media, as they scaled down operations until funding is restored.

Senators failed to pass a short-term funding bill that would have kept the government open for several weeks while they worked on a full appropriations package.

“We will not update this account until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information,” said a post on X by the U.S. Embassy to the U.K. in London after the shutdown came into effect Wednesday with the passing of the midnight deadline.

It warned: “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.”

Similar messages were posted by the accounts of other U.S. embassies, consulates, ambassadors, and various diplomatic outposts the world over.

“Due to the lapse in appropriations, this X account will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, with the exception of urgent safety and security information,” posted the account for U.S. Ambassador Robert F. Godec in Thailand.

It highlights some of the immediate impacts of the government shutdown, which reaches beyond American borders.

This is a developing article. Updates to follow.