What Travelers Should Know About the 2025 Government Shutdown
- claudia
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 2
DC is still open! If you are making a trip to Washington, DC, you may have heard about the government shutdown. This can be very confusing for visitors coming to the city. Where can you go? What can you do? Is it even worth visiting DC or should you cancel?
Have no fear. Washington is still a great city to visit. DC is more than the federal government. There’s plenty of attractions, experiences, and award-winning dining waiting for you. You may have to alter your plan a little but it’s still worth visiting Washington, DC. In this article, we’ll explore the frequently asked questions concerning government shutdowns and explore the many things still available to you!
What is a government shut down?
Every year the U.S. government determines the budget for the upcoming year. If the appropriation, a federal budget bill, is not passed at the appointed deadline, the government will close until they come to an agreement. Every government institution closes for a period of time. Some government employees still work but are not paid until Congress agrees on a new budget for the upcoming year while other employees cannot go into work and therefore some government services close.
When does a government shutdown happen? Whenever there is a unresolved disagreement regarding the proposed budget. The disagreement can be between the House and the Senate or between the Congress and the President.
How long will the government shut down last?
The quick answer: no one knows. Government agencies stay closed until appropriations resume, in other words, until the law passes to pay these organizations. Government shutdowns have been from a few hours to over a month. In recent history, the longest shutdown was in 2018 for 35 days but they normally last a few days. The condition to restart is determined when an agreement is made and Congress and the President agree to a budget.
So this can take as long as they want. However, usually the elected officials want to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. The sooner a budget is passed, the sooner federal services and workers can return to work.
How will a government shutdown affect my trip to DC?
Many of the top sites remain open, but it can be hard to know. Follow our tour offerings on this website and our social media to track which of your wish list sites will be opened. The list may change depending on the length of the shutdown, so check back frequently for the most up to date information.
With the countless things to do in DC, you can still have a fun and unforgettable trip. Explore monuments, visit hidden DC streets, take in a show, enjoy a meal, explore a dive-bar, check out private museums, or attractions. There’s plenty of things to do in Washington, DC even when there’s a government shutdown. The most important thing is to find an expert guide to show you the things to do off-the-beaten path.
How to get around during a government shut down?
Metro should be operating as normal. You’re free to move around the city like usual and the daily with many government employees at home, the trains should have plenty of seats available. If you are curious about navigating the Metro, we do offer a DC Metro tour that will give you the basics on navigating our subway system.
What will be closed during a government shut down?
Since a government shutdown affects all government funded buildings, it affects many attractions in DC. The Archives will be completely closed. Both the Capitol and Library of Congress will be closed. However, we are still providing outdoor tours of the Capitol and surrounding neighborhood along with entry to the Supreme Court on weekdays and entry to the Folger Shakespeare Library!
Other institutions that are partially funded have decided to remain open for several days. This includes the seventeen Smithsonian museums, for example, the Natural History Museum, American History Museum, Air and Space Museum, and Portrait Gallery as well as the separate, but similarly funded National Gallery of Art.
Are tours still available?
Great news! The answer is yes! Unscripted Tours will be offering 17 different tour options which will still include entry to many popular area museums.
A two hour tour including the exterior of the Library of Congress and the US Capitol, entry into the Supreme Court and entry into Folger Shakespeare Library.
Walk through Civil War Washington in the Penn Quarter neighborhood. You'll learn about the conspirators and the plot to kill Lincoln as well as other well-known people living in DC at the time. Your guide will show you original Civil War buildings including the exterior of Ford's Theater and Petersen House and you'll finish your tour in the historic National Portrait Gallery.
Join leading experts in Arlington National Cemetery on a two and a half hour guided walking tour and learn the stories that make up our most hallowed grounds.
Our current information indicates the Smithsonian will remain open during the first several days of a shutdown so our popular Smithsonian Highlights tour of the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of American History and the Air & Space Museum will be available. We will also be offering our more in-depth single museum tours for guests who which to take a deeper dive into each of those collections.
Explore DC’s famous neighborhoods. Choose from Dupont Circle, Capitol Scandals, or Georgetown. Join our expert guide on a one and a half hour walking tour of DC’s neighborhoods and their hidden stories.
Learn to navigate the DC metro system with this 2.5 hour tour. Use the Metro to explore the local neighborhoods while learning how to get around the city.
This unique tour will begin at the Navy Memorial and bring guests through the history of Americans at war. Planned stops include the World War I Memorial, the Price of Freedom exhibit in the Museum of American History, and a walk down the National Mall to see the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.
Comments