Smithsonian Museums, National Zoo Close As Shutdown Continues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With no end in sight for the government shutdown, visitors and residents of the nation's capital cannot visit the Smithsonian museums or the National Zoo.

The Smithsonian said in a statement that all Smithsonian museums, research centers, and the National Zoo are temporarily closed.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, like all Smithsonian museums, receives federal funding. The Smithsonian said on social media:

"Due to the government shutdown, Smithsonian museums are temporarily closed beginning on Sunday, Oct. 12, along with our research centers and the National Zoo.

"We will update our operating status as soon as the situation is resolved. We do not plan to update social media other than to inform you of changes to our operating status.

"While our doors are closed, Smithsonian digital resources continue to be available at si.edu."

Monday marks Day 13 of the shutdown.

Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said there will be deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the government shutdown goes on, adding to the uncertainty facing hundreds of thousands who are already furloughed without pay amid the stubborn stalemate in Congress.

Vance warned that as the federal shutdown entered its 12th day, the new cuts would be “painful," even as he said the Trump administration worked to ensure that the military is paid this week and some services would be preserved for low-income Americans, including food assistance.

Still, hundreds of thousands of government workers have been furloughed in recent days and, in a court filing on Friday, the Office of Management and Budget said well over 4,000 federal employees would soon be fired in conjunction with the shutdown.

“The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be,” Vance said on Fox News' “Sunday Morning Futures.” “To be clear, some of these cuts are going to be painful. This is not a situation that we relish. This is not something that we’re looking forward to, but the Democrats have dealt us a pretty difficult set of cards.”

Labor unions have already filed a lawsuit to stop the aggressive move by President Donald Trump’s budget office, which goes far beyond what usually happens in a government shutdown, further inflaming tensions between the Republicans who control Congress and the Democratic minority.

The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of federal subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. The expiration of those subsidies at the end of the year will result in monthly cost increases for millions.

Trump and Republican leaders have said they are open to negotiations on the health subsidies, but insist the government must reopen first.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.