Museums and other government-run attractions in Washington D.C. have closed to the public as the U.S. federal government entered a shutdown at the start of Wednesday, following Congress's failure to pass a funding bill due to partisan divides.
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are being forced to take unpaid leave, with some public services suspended or delayed, and the release of economic data may be impacted as well.
The shutdown commenced hours after the U.S. Senate failed to pass a short-term spending bill that would have temporarily kept the government running. The continuing resolution proposed by Senate Republicans was blocked by Democrats, falling short of the 60 votes required for passage.
Landmarks such as the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol are closed due to the shutdown. The Smithsonian Institution announced it would use funds from the previous fiscal year's budget to keep its museums, research centers, and the National Zoo open at least through October 6. Most national parks will maintain access to outdoor areas, but staffed facilities, such as visitor centers, are closed.
Public reactions to the shutdown are mixed. Some accept the situation with resignation, while others angrily criticize the government for its failures.
"I heard the museums are closed, but other than that I think I'm fine," said an American tourist to the capital city.
Another visitor from Texas expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "I don't trust none of the government right now."
The operating funds for the U.S. federal government are intended to be allocated through annual budget appropriations. Congress from both parties is normally expected to pass new annual appropriations bills before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. However, in recent years, intense partisan battles have often prevented timely agreement.
Over the past year, the federal government has faced multiple "shutdown" crises, with Congress passing short-term spending bills just hours before funds ran out in December 2024 and March 2025. The most recent and longest federal government shutdown occurred from late 2018 to early 2019 during Trump's first term. Democrats opposed Trump's proposed funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, and the two parties' disputes over immigration led to a 35-day shutdown, during which some 800,000 federal employees were forced to work without pay or take unpaid leave.
DC attractions close as US gov't shuts down for first time in 7 years
