The Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex, has shuttered its museums and the National Zoo as the federal government shutdown drags into its third week, leaving tourists and Washington residents locked out of some of the nation’s most treasured cultural landmarks.
The Smithsonian had remained open for nearly two weeks after the Oct. 1 shutdown by relying on leftover funds from prior years, but with those reserves depleted, all 21 museums in Washington, D.C., and New York, along with 14 research centers and the National Zoo, have now closed their doors.
Visitors to the National Mall have encountered locked entrances and printed notices announcing the closures.
“You won’t get to see the animals today,” said Mario de la Fuente, who had brought his 2-year-old son to the Museum of Natural History.
He noted his disappointment of finding the museum closed after weeks of following the shutdown news from afar.
“This is an easy treat within arm’s reach,” the father said.
The closures extend beyond the museums’ doors.
The National Zoo has confirmed that while its animals continue to be fed and cared for, the popular live animal cameras are offline.
“To say that he’s highly disappointed is an understatement,” said Deborah Silva, who had traveled from Alabama with her son to visit the zoo and see “the history he was learning in school up close.”
The Smithsonian, which relies on Congress for about 53% of its $1.09 billion annual budget, joins the National Gallery of Art, which closed earlier this month. The funding impasse on Capitol Hill has also left roughly 1.4 million federal employees furloughed or working without pay, while thousands more have received layoff notices.
The institution’s shutdown comes against the backdrop of increasing political tension between the Smithsonian and President Donald Trump’s administration.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has pressured the Smithsonian to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and launched a White House review of the content and programming of several museums. After a meeting with Trump, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch said the institution would continue its own internal review “rather than comply with the White House’s demands.”
As the standoff in Congress continues, families like the Davises from Dallas, who had planned a celebratory trip for their grandson before he began college, found themselves redrawing itineraries around closed gates and silent halls.
“It was definitely worthwhile, but just a disappointment,” Mary Davis told reporters.
For now, the fate of the museums — and the millions who visit them each year — rests on a stalled Congress showing no signs of reaching a deal.
“It’s disappointing the government can shut down like this,” Canadian visitor Jeff Walsh said in a televised interview. “It doesn’t happen like this in Canada.”