Smithsonian Museums reopen after losing $ 1 million a week



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The Smithsonian tweeted Friday that all its museums and the national zoo would be reopened on Tuesday if a permanent resolution was passed to fund the government.

And a few hours later, President Donald Trump signed a resolution providing for funding until February 15. ] The 19 museums of the Smithsonian Institution funded by the federal government, the largest museum, education and research complex in the world, have been closed since January 2 because of the closure.

When the closure began on December 22, the Smithsonian managed to maintain its museums and the national zoo, which it also manages, open for 11 days, thanks to funds carried over from the previous year. But these funds ran out on the second day of this month.

And Smithsonian Secretary David J. Skorton said in an editorial for USA Today that this 173-year-old institution had lost about $ 1 million each.

"The closing of restaurants, stores, IMAX theaters and other facilities costs about a million dollars in revenue at the Smithsonian each week," writes Skorton. "These losses are not recoverable, they will have a lasting effect on our budget for this exercise, and this effect is increasing every day."

While the animals at the National Zoo were still fed, Skorton claims that the 4,000 laid-off employees go to do so, the institution will once again welcome tourists, art lovers and art enthusiasts. 39; history.

"School visits can not take place with closed museums," wrote Skorton. "The research of curators and others in our museums has been interrupted, and many expeditions and field campaigns related to biodiversity, human origins, forest health and waterways have been canceled."

"Every day off includes palpable effects and venerable cultural institution, the people we serve and the members of the Smithsonian family," wrote Skorton.

CNN's Doug Criss contributed to this report.

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