US museums hit by new government shutdown in autumn 2025

A new US government shutdown, triggered by Congress's failure to pass a budget since October 1, 2025, has forced the closure of numerous federal museums and cultural sites. The Smithsonian Institution, with its 21 museums, has shut down after exhausting internal reserves. In Washington D.C., the National Gallery of Art has been closed for nearly two weeks. The National Portrait Gallery postponed an exhibition scheduled for October 18, and the Grandma Moses project at the Smithsonian American Art Museum faces an uncertain future. Also closed indefinitely are the Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Zoo, and National Museum of African American History and Culture. Other closures include the Library of Congress, National Arboretum, National Archives Museum, and tours of the Capitol and Pentagon. In Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, and Benjamin Franklin Museum are closed. Museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA in New York remain open due to private funding, unlike the Smithsonian which relies on government support for over 60% of its budget. The longest US shutdown lasted just over a month during Trump's first term, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested the current stalemate could break records due to disagreements over healthcare cuts and the Affordable Care Act.