The United States government has shut down, leaving many federal agencies and government programs in limbo as congressional Democrats and Republicans struggle to reach an agreement on funding. Federally funded arts and cultural institutions and monuments, including the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art (NGA), the National Endowment for the Arts, and monuments managed by the National Park Service, could be impacted by an extended shutdown.
The Smithsonian said in a public statement that all of its 21 museums and zoo would use “prior-year” funds to remain open through Monday, October 6. A spokesperson for the Smithsonian told Hyperallergic that the institution would draw from a private trust fund and federal appropriations to keep its doors open temporarily.
The Smithsonian receives approximately 62% of its funding through federal appropriations, according to the institution’s website. It also receives a number of private donations, with an annual fundraising goal of $300 million. Last year, the institution’s federal appropriation was $1.09 billion.
The last government shutdown lasted for 35 days, from December 22, 2018, through January 25, 2019. The Smithsonian remained closed for part of the shutdown, which was the longest in United States history. According to the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the 2018–2019 shutdown resulted in a loss of $3.4 million in revenue from its for-sale goods and an estimated loss of one million visitors.
The NGA in Washington, DC, will remain open through this Saturday, October 4, a spokesperson for the institution told Hyperallergic. The nonprofit museum, established in partnership with the federal government, receives both congressional funding and relies on private donations for acquisitions and programming. The NGA received $209 million in federal funding in 2024. During the 2018–2019 shutdown, AAM estimated the museum suffered a loss of $1.2 million in revenue.
The National Park Service, which operates monuments such as the Statue of Liberty and the African Burial Ground in Manhattan, will furlough over 9,000 of its employees, more than half of its total workforce. During the shutdown, no visitor services, educational programs, or maintenance will be conducted, according to the Department of the Interior.
The African Burial Memorial is closed, Hyperallergic confirmed, and employees are considered non-essential and are on leave during the shutdown.
The Statue of Liberty will reportedly be closed during the shutdown. In 2018, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spent approximately $65,000 to keep the attraction open.
The shutdown, prompted by Republicans’ refusal to address Trump’s Medicare cuts and extend healthcare subsidies, could also affect employment for hundreds of federal workers at these institutions. The White House has threatened mass job cuts and told government agencies to prepare for reductions in staff whose work is “not consistent with the President’s priorities.”
In a statement, the AAM warned that the government shutdown would also halt the already embattled National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. President Trump has proposed defunding all three federal arts and culture agencies.
“Museums are powerful economic engines, supporting more than 726,000 jobs and contributing $50 billion annually to the U.S. economy,” the AAM said. “Even a brief shutdown undermines this impact.”
