Obama shortens Asia trip, cancels stops in Malaysia, Philippines due to government shutdown

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is cancelling two stops on his long-planned trip to Asia because of the partial government shutdown.

Obama is scheduled to leave Saturday night for what was originally a four-nation tour. The White House says Obama will still travel to Indonesia and Brunei, but is calling off the final two stops in Malaysia and the Philippines.

The shutdown took effect early Tuesday after Congress missed its deadline to fund the government.

The trip is part of Obama’s broader focus on boosting U.S. economic ties with Asia. Obama twice cancelled trips to Asia in 2010, once to stay in Washington for votes on his health care law, and once because of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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