Obama surprises visitors as White House tours resume

Barack Obama and his wife Michelle surprised visitors at the White House today, as tours of the US presidential residence resumed after an eight-month break sparked by government budget woes.
"How are you! So good to see you," the president said, welcoming visitors to the state rooms of the mansion in the heart of Washington.
He and the first lady, accompanied by their dogs Bo and Sunny, shook hands and chatted for several minutes with tourists who appeared shocked and thrilled, according to a video posted on the White House web site.
White House tours, suspended since March 9 due to deep US budget cuts known as the "sequester," will be offered three days a week, down from five days a week before the break.

In March, the White House visitors office had said the tours would be halted until further notice due to personnel reductions amid budget cuts.
About USD 85 billion in across-the-board cuts in domestic and defense spending went into effect in March after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a deal to cut the deficit.

However, under the budget extension passed in mid-October, the Secret Service said White House tours could resume, albeit on a reduced schedule, at least through January 15, when the current funding for the government is due to run out.
The tours, which are managed by the National Park Service, require reservations, usually at least two months in advance.

Tours, which are self-guided, allow visitors to see some parts of the White House basement as well as the state rooms on the ground floor.
The second floor, where the Obama family lives, is off-limits, as is the West Wing, where the Oval Office is located.