How Will the US Government Shutdown Impact Museums?

As the United States government enters a state of shutdown, numerous federal agencies and programs find themselves in a state of uncertainty. The ongoing struggle between congressional Democrats and Republicans over budgetary agreements has significant implications for federally funded arts and cultural institutions. This includes major entities like the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art (NGA), the National Endowment for the Arts, and historic monuments overseen by the National Park Service.

The Smithsonian Institution has publicly stated its commitment to keeping all 21 of its museums and the National Zoo operational until at least Monday, October 6, by utilizing “prior-year” funds. A representative from the Smithsonian informed Hyperallergic that they would tap into a private trust fund along with federal appropriations to maintain access for visitors temporarily.

Approximately 62% of the Smithsonian’s funding is derived from federal appropriations, as detailed on their official website. They also rely on private donations, setting an annual fundraising target of $300 million. In the previous year, the Smithsonian received $1.09 billion in federal funding.

The last government shutdown was a historic 35-day gap from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. During that lengthy interruption, the Smithsonian was forced to close some of its facilities, resulting in substantial revenue losses. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) reported that the 2018–2019 shutdown caused the Smithsonian to lose $3.4 million in income from gift shop sales and an estimated decline of one million visitors.

As for the National Gallery of Art, it will remain operational until Saturday, October 4, as confirmed by a spokesperson to Hyperallergic. Given that the NGA is a nonprofit institution partnered with the federal government, it receives congressional funding and depends on private donations for both acquisitions and programming. For the fiscal year 2024, the NGA secured $209 million in federal support. The previous shutdown also had a damaging effect on the gallery, resulting in an estimated revenue loss of $1.2 million, according to AAM.

The National Park Service (NPS), responsible for iconic locations such as the Statue of Liberty and the African Burial Ground in Manhattan, is poised to furlough over 9,000 employees—exceeding half of its workforce. The agency announced that during the shutdown, essential visitor services, educational initiatives, and maintenance activities would be suspended.

As confirmed by Hyperallergic, the African Burial Memorial will not be accessible, with all non-essential employees placed on leave during the shutdown. The Statue of Liberty is also expected to close its doors during this time; notably, during the last government shutdown, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo allocated roughly $65,000 to keep this landmark open.

The current impasse stemmed from Republican pushback against President Trump’s proposed cuts to Medicare and the extension of healthcare subsidies, threatening the jobs of countless federal workers at these vital institutions. The White House has indicated potential mass layoffs and has instructed agencies to prepare for workforce reductions in areas deemed inconsistent with “the President’s priorities.”

A statement from the AAM highlights the comprehensive impact of the shutdown: it not only disrupts operations but significantly undermines the ongoing efforts and funding for organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. President Trump has previously proposed killing funding for these three critical federal arts and culture agencies.

“Museums serve as vital economic drivers, supporting over 726,000 jobs and contributing approximately $50 billion annually to the U.S. economy,” the AAM emphasized. “Even a short-lived shutdown poses a threat to this robust economic impact.”