US Government Shutdown Forces National Gallery of Washington to Close

Beginning on December 22, 2019, the US federal government entered a shutdown triggered by a funding conflict for a border wall between President Trump and the Democrats. Trump is insisting on over $5 billion for the wall, which Democrats oppose. This situation has led to the furlough of around 800,000 federal employees, affecting agencies such as Homeland Security and National Parks. Public institutions like the National Gallery of Art have closed galleries, canceled events, and halted customer service. The entire Smithsonian Network, encompassing major museums, is also shut down. Artist Jeffrey Veregge voiced his frustration over his exhibition being inaccessible, while retrospectives of Rachel Whiteread and Gordon Parks face potential economic repercussions and damage to public trust.