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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Federal Offices in D.C. Area Closed Again Today

Aired September 19, 2003 - 06:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's not business as usual in the nation's capital today. President Bush, of course, left the White House yesterday and went to higher ground. He's at Camp David. The federal government does remain closed today.
We have our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, on the line with us.

Good morning -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, why did they close down the federal government for a second day? Is it really that bad in D.C. this morning?

MALVEAUX: Well, really for cautionary measures. But I went out this morning walking to White House, and it is really a ghost town. But, of course, a lot of trees that are down, and there are some spots where it's really quite dangerous with the power lines.

But, as you mentioned before, President Bush and Jordan's King Abdullah, they weathered this storm together at the presidential retreat in Camp David, and the president's schedule was pushed forward 24 hours because of this weather. And they had their talks yesterday, and then they hunkered down.

Mr. Bush made some comments about his contacts at Homeland Security and emergency management, and was very confident because the equipment was in place, communications.

And here at the White House, it is very, very quiet, as you can imagine. They're not going to be having any briefings or any informal talks here. Essentially, we had to clear out all of our gear from the lawn early yesterday, so we are inside doing our briefings today.

And President Bush declared that North Carolina and Virginia are major disasters areas. And, of course, what that means is that federal funding is available to those states and individuals.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MALVEAUX: And even small businesses can apply for assistance if they need it.

COSTELLO: Yes, it's just going to cost the federal government so much money to help people out in the aftermath of this storm. And the reason I was asking about the federal workers, 350,000 federal workers not at work today, and that's costing all taxpayers a big chunk of change. I think I heard the figure $67 million a day. Did you hear that?

MALVEAUX: Yes. That's absolutely right, and that is a big price tag to pay. But, as you know, with FEMA in other natural disasters, that's built into their budgets. But you know what kind of situation we're in with the federal deficit that just additional costs and the additional disasters certainly can't help the situation.

It's very interesting, I haven't been home and I'm very curious to see if I have power or if there is a tree over my house. I'm not sure.

COSTELLO: Hey, is the Metro running, do you know?

MALVEAUX: It isn't. No, it isn't running.

COSTELLO: It is not.

MALVEAUX: No.

COSTELLO: OK. Well...

MALVEAUX: It's pretty quiet. It is pretty dead here in Washington this morning, especially in downtown Washington around the White House.

COSTELLO: Well, I'm sure the store shelves are cleared, because, you know, Washingtonians freak out during the slightest inclement weather.

MALVEAUX: You and I should know. We've been here long enough in Washington to know that.

COSTELLO: Definitely so. Suzanne Malveaux joining us live by phone from D.C. this morning.

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