National Gallery of Art Closes amid US Government Shutdown

The National Gallery of Art announced it will temporarily close and cancel all programs beginning Oct. 5 (with some reports noting a Sunday closure), making it the first major D.C. museum to shutter because of the government shutdown. The Smithsonian Institution is using prior-year funds to keep its museums, research centers and the National Zoo open through Oct. 11 but warned that locations will close beginning Oct. 12 if the shutdown persists. The disruptions force tourists and local visitors to find alternatives for attractions such as the Spirit of St. Louis and the “Nation’s T. rex,” and could imperil upcoming programming at the National Gallery, including a large Australian Indigenous art survey scheduled for Oct. 18. The situation echoes past shutdowns that exhausted reserve funds and left many museum workers unpaid; the Smithsonian says it will continue essential animal care at the zoo while suspending nonessential services like animal cams.