Smithsonian Museums, National Zoo To Close If Shutdown Continues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With no end in sight for the government shutdown, visitors and residents of the nation's capital may soon find they won't be able to visit the Smithsonian museums or the National Zoo.

The Smithsonian said in a statement that if the shutdown continues past Jan.1, all museums and the zoo will close effective Jan. 2.

"The Smithsonian has been using prior-year funds to remain open to the public through Jan. 1," the statement said. "If the federal-funding lapse continues, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will close Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019."

As a result of the shutdown, about 800,000 federal workers are affected and are either furloughed or working without pay. The shutdown is also beginning to pinch citizens who count on public services. Gates are closed at some national parks, the government won't issue new federal flood insurance policies, new farm loans will be put on hold beginning next week, and in New York, the chief judge of Manhattan federal courts suspended work on civil cases involving U.S. government lawyers, including several civil lawsuits in which President Trump himself is a defendant.

Trump is sticking with his demand for money to build a wall along the southern border, and Democrats, who take control of the House on Jan. 3, are refusing to give him what he wants.

Trump worked to escalate the showdown Friday, reissuing threats to close the U.S.-Mexico border to pressure Congress to fund the wall and to shut off aid to three Central American countries from which many migrants have fled.

You can find a list of Smithsonian facilities and hours here.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Photo by Evan Vucci/Associated Press