Smithsonian museums and National Zoo close temporarily as government shutdown drags on
WASHINGTON — The National Zoo’s pandas will be without their usual adoring crowds Sunday when the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and research centers close their doors to the public as funding begins to dry up during the government shutdown.
The Smithsonian announced X’s temporary closure, adding that its social media accounts likely won’t be updated until there is a reopening plan from the federal government.
The zoo and museums remained open to the public during the shutdown, which began Oct. 1, using funds remaining from the previous fiscal year. The Smithsonian initially said it would only stay open until October 6, but later extended that window by five more days.
The Smithsonian, which includes 19 museums, 14 education and research centers and the National Zoo, is primarily funded by the federal government. About 62 percent of its funding comes from Congress, as well as contributions from private sources and revenues from its operations.
The institution – the world’s largest museum and research complex – is a staple of tourist itineraries in the nation’s capital, attracting millions of visitors each year, in part because the zoo and museums offer free admission to the public.
Despite the temporary closure, animals at the Smithsonian Zoo and Conservation Center in Virginia will continue to be fed and cared for, as outlined on an FAQ page and confirmed by a zoo spokesperson Friday.
“All animals at the zoo and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, will continue to be fed and cared for. A closure will not impact our commitment to the safety of our staff and our standard of excellence in animal care,” the FAQ reads.
But the animal cameras, which allow the public to keep an eye on the zoo’s animals in real time, including the famous pandas, will turn off during the temporary closure.
The Smithsonian is the latest tourist attraction affected by the closure. National parks have been partially closed since the beginning of the month, although some governors are keeping parks open by dipping into state funds.
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There is no clear path to reopening the government and providing funding to organizations like the Smithsonian.
The Senate has repeatedly failed to pass a House-passed Republican funding bill or a Democratic alternative, creating a cycle that some senators have compared to “Groundhog Day.”
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Friday that the House would not return to session until the Senate approves the Republican funding bill. Still, either chamber could be recalled at short notice if an agreement to end the shutdown is reached.
The Trump administration has sought to find solutions to some unpopular aspects of the shutdown. President Donald Trump said Saturday he would order the Defense Department to pay troops this week, as officials and lawmakers expressed concern that members of the military would not receive their mid-October salaries.
