National Christmas Tree To Light Up Again

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: It's a minor Christmas miracle: enough donations have come in to make sure the National Christmas Tree will be lit up on Christmas Eve, despite the government shutdown.

Original story:

WASHINGTON, DC -- The spectacular National Christmas Tree has gone dark just days before Christmas, one of many victims of the government shutdown, and the damage it suffered from a rogue climber on Friday won't be repaired either until Congress makes a budget deal.

The lights briefly flickered on Sunday afternoon, WJLA reports, but that was because outside contractors were testing the lights in an attempt to make repairs due to the climber who scaled the tree Friday.

Instead, the National Park Service will have to rely on donations, which they may or may not get, WJLA reports.

The NPS expects to make an announcement about the tree soon.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 23: People look at the National Christmas Tree that is currently closed to the public due to a partial shutdown of the federal government, on December 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. The partial shutdown will continue for at least a few more days as lawmakers head home for the holidays and Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on the amount of funding for border security. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)