Museums
The Smithsonian Institution, which includes 21 museums and the National Zoo in and around Washington DC, will remain open until at least 6 October 2025, according to a notice on its website. The Smithsonian receives 62% of funding from the federal government and admission to its museums is free, but officials have not said what will happen if the shutdown extends beyond that date.
In a statement to the BBC, the National Zoo confirmed: “Like all Smithsonian museums, [the National Zoo] receives federal funding. Thus, during a government shutdown, the Zoo – and the rest of the Smithsonian museums – must close to the public.”
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While this will disappoint visitors to the capital, the zoo’s representative assures that the animals will still receive full care. However, the popular animal webcam streams won’t be operating during the shutdown.
Outdoor attractions such as monuments on the National Mall will remain open, while Washington-area museums and sites that do not rely on federal funding – including the National Building Museum, the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Phillips Collection – will also continue to operate.
Health and safety
Emergency services such as 911 dispatch will continue to operate as normal, and hospitals and medical centres remain open throughout the country. Veterans Affairs medical centres are also unaffected. Some services at US national parks may be scaled back with fewer staff and closed visitor centres, but emergency personnel will remain in place to keep visitors safe.
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