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The Trump administration has announced that the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will remain open during the ongoing government shutdown. According to a spokesperson from the Department of the Interior, President Donald Trump’s leadership is ensuring that these iconic landmarks in New York Harbor continue to welcome visitors. The shutdown, which began at midnight on Wednesday, has affected many federal operations, but the National Park Service is managing to keep these sites open.
In previous shutdowns, New York State had to cover the costs to keep the landmarks open. However, Governor Kathy Hochul has stated that the state will not provide funds this time, emphasizing that people need to see the consequences of the shutdown. During the 2013 and 2018 shutdowns, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo used state resources to keep the sites operational.
Despite the shutdown, crowds continue to visit the landmarks without disruption. The National Park Service has furloughed about two-thirds of its employees, but plans to use available funds to provide basic services. Other national parks are expected to remain mostly open, though some may close if damage occurs or garbage accumulates.
The decision to keep the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island open comes as a relief to the millions of visitors who tour these sites each year. The landmarks are staffed by 88 permanent employees, 28 seasonal employees, and 80 United States Park Police personnel. The ongoing shutdown could see a total of approximately 750,000 federal employees furloughed, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate.
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