"Each year, several thousand weather forecasters, researchers and climate scientists from all over the world gather for the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting to exchange ideas to improve weather prediction and understanding of climate change. This year, due to the partial federal government shutdown, hundreds of scientists will not attend the conference set to begin this weekend in Phoenix.

Employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the National Weather Service, received the directive to cancel travel arrangements Thursday.

“NOAA has determined that due to the lapse in appropriations, NOAA will not be able to participate in the AMS; all official NOAA travel to the AMS is canceled,” a mass email to affected employees said."

Jason Samenow reports for the Washington Post January 3, 2019. [2]