Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo closed their doors on Sunday in response to the ongoing government shutdown.
In a statement over the weekend, the Washington DC-based Smithsonian Institution announced that it was temporarily closing its museums, research centers and its zoo due to the government shutdown which has now entered the third week.
“We will update our operating status as soon as the situation is resolved. We do not plan to update social media other than to inform you of changes to our operating status. While our doors are closed, Smithsonian digital resources continue to be available at si.edu,” the Smithsonian Institution said.
It added that all the animals at the zoo as well as at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, will continue to be fed and cared for.
“A shutdown will not affect our commitment to the safety of our staff and standard of excellence in animal care,” the institution said.
The zoo’s live cameras have been turned off because they are considered non-essential and require federal resources – mainly staff – to operate and broadcast, according to the zoo.
The Smithsonian Institution, which was founded in 1846, hosts the world’s largest museum and research complex, featuring 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, as well as the National Zoo.
Since Donald Trump took office in January, the Smithsonian Institution has come under fire for what the White House describes as “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology”. Criticizing the institution on Truth Social in August, the US president said: “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been.”
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Earlier this year, the White House informed the institution that it plans to review multiple exhibitions, materials and operations in advance of the US’s 250th anniversary celebrations next year to ensure that the museums’ exhibits are “patriotic”.
With current federal appropriations estimated at more than $1bn, approximately 62% of the institution’s funding comes from federal sources. This includes both its annual congressional appropriation and various federal grants and contracts.
During the last government shutdown in 2019 which lasted a record 35 days, Smithsonian museums lost an estimated 1 million visitors and $3.4m in gross revenue, according to the American Alliance of Museums.
The Smithsonian Institution’s decision to shutter its museums and zoo comes after the White House announced hundreds of federal layoffs last week across various government agencies including the Departments of Commerce, Energy and Education.
Meanwhile, approximately 750,000 workers remain furloughed while hundreds of thousands more continue working without pay.
As the government shutdown enters its 13th day, Democrats and Republicans continue to trade blame after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement earlier this month.
