Smithsonian museums and National Zoo close temporarily as government shutdown drags on

The Smithsonian Institution drew on prior year funds to stay open for 11 days after the shutdown began on Oct. 1.

WASHINGTON — The pandas at the National Zoo will find themselves without their usual adoring crowds Sunday when the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and research centers close their doors to the public as funding starts to dry up during the government shutdown.

The Smithsonian announced the temporary closure on X, adding that its social media accounts aren’t likely to be updated until there’s a plan to reopen the federal government.

The zoo and museums had remained open to the public during the shutdown, which began Oct. 1, by using leftover funds from the previous fiscal year. The Smithsonian initially said it would only stay open through Oct. 6, but later extended that window an extra five days.

The Smithsonian, which spans 19 museums, 14 education and research centers and the National Zoo, is primarily funded by the federal government. About 62% of its funding comes from Congress, along with contributions from private sources and revenue from its operations.

The institution — the world’s largest museum and research complex — is a staple on itineraries for tourists to the nation’s capital, drawing millions of visitors each year, in part because the zoo and museums offer free entry to the public.