Northern Ireland's political parties are not being invited to the annual St Patrick's Day White House celebrations.
The news was confirmed by Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, who will be presenting President George W Bush with a bowl of shamrock at the bash.
It had been thought the parties would not be asked, rather than exclude Sinn Fein over Northern Bank raid claims.
"I don't think anyone will be surprised – all I hope is that we will be in a better state next year," Mr Ahern said.
"Because I'm sure the president would like to have it the way it has been, at least since the last administration."
Mr Ahern said that he was not involved in the discussions surrounding the decision, adding that "it was totally a matter for the secretaries involved in the White House who advise the president".
The SDLPs Patricia Lewsley said US goodwill to the peace process was being "recklessly squandered" and blamed Sinn Fein.
"The US administration is deeply angry at the IRA raid of the Northern Bank, and disgusted by the murder of Robert McCartney and at Sinn Fein's failure to face up to the huge damage done by it," she said.
Caoimhghin O Caolain, Sinn Fein's leader in the Irish Parliament, insisted that the decision applied across the board rather than to his party alone.
"This is just one event. It's for the US administration to explain their decision," he said.
The US administration has yet to say who is on the guest list for the 17 March party.
