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Smithsonian museums closed due to federal government shutdown

A sign alerting visitors that the National Gallery of Art in Washington is closed on Tuesday morning.
A sign alerting visitors that the National Gallery of Art in Washington is closed on Tuesday morning.
(Chip Somodevilla / AFP/Getty Images)
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The Smithsonian closed its doors Tuesday as parts of the federal government shut down after Congress failed to reach an agreement on spending, All Smithsonian museums, as well as the National Zoo in Washington, have closed until further notice.

Tuesday’s shutdown affects all 18 Smithsonian organizations in Washington -- including the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Air and Space Museum -- and two in New York. In addition, national monuments were also in the process of closing on Tuesday, according to reports.

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On Monday, the Senate rejected the latest budget proposal from the House of Representatives. The fiscal standoff stems in large part from Republican attempts to block President Obama’s healthcare initiative.

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