After a 43-day government shutdown, Washington D.C.’s major federally funded museums are preparing to reopen to the public. The National Gallery of Art and the 21 museums operated by the Smithsonian Institution are resuming operations on a staggered schedule as staff return and core services resume.
The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, stemmed from a prolonged dispute in Congress over federal spending. Lawmakers reached a deal late Wednesday, November 12th, sending a funding bill to President Trump, who signed it into law that night. The closure had halted federal services nationwide, disrupted air travel, and forced federally funded cultural institutions to close for more than a month.
The Smithsonian Institution began reopening select museums on Friday, with the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, resuming normal operations first. The National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of African Art, the National Museum of Asian Art, and the National Zoo will reopen on Saturday. All remaining museums and public buildings are set to reopen on a rolling basis by Monday, November 17th.
The National Gallery of Art also welcomed back visitors on Friday, opening its galleries in its West Building and sculpture garden. Its East Building will reopen on Saturday. The postponed exhibition, “The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art,” will officially open on Saturday after its original October opening was delayed.
Assessments from previous shutdowns indicate the financial toll of prolonged closures can be significant. A 2019 analysis by the American Alliance of Museums cited billions in losses tied to shuttered galleries, canceled programs, and reduced tourism in surrounding neighborhoods.
Other federally operated sites, including the Library of Congress, the U.S. Botanic Garden, and the National Archives, are also in the process of restoring public access.
