The Smithsonian Institution announced Friday afternoon that the museums and the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute will be able to stay open to the public until closing time on Oct. 11.
That’s an extra five days beyond Oct. 6, the initial date by which the Smithsonians said they would close during the federal government shutdown.
However, if the shutdown continues beyond Oct. 11, the museums and zoo will be closed from Sunday, Oct. 12, onwards.
“Our museums, research centers, and the National Zoo are open today, and will remain open through Saturday, October 11, a banner on the Smithsonian website reads. “If the government shutdown continues past October 11, the Smithsonian will then close to the public.”
Because the museums and the zoo are part of the federal government, and had not been funded for the upcoming fiscal year before the shutdown began on Oct. 1, they cannot remain open during the shutdown.
The Smithsonian Institution is using prior-year funds to stay open for the 11 days of the shutdown that the public can visit the museums and zoo.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/yw4Nj0l
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