Barack Obama to give up 5% of salary in show of solidarity over cuts

Kiyo: Barack Obama will return 5% of his salary to the US treasury in a show of solidarity with federal workers affected by $85bn in government-wide spending cuts.

The 5% that Obama will hand back mirrors the 5% cut that domestic agencies took when the reductions went into effect.

Currently, every federal agency is grappling with spending cuts, which the White House has said could affect everything from commercial flights to classrooms.

A 5% cut from the president's salary of $400,000 (£265,000) a year amounts to $20,000.

Filo: Obama is not the first president to extend such gesture, John F Kennedy once donated his presidential salary to various charities, just call it leadership by example. With this news I know you are thinking if it is worth it queuing all day for visa, Kiyo, it appears the grass over there is not so green after all.