The Plant Press

From The Plant Press, Vol. 29, No. 1, January 2026.

Editor’s Note: Shutdown shutters Smithsonian

By Gary A. Krupnick

On October 1, 2025, the U.S. government failed to pass appropriation for the fiscal year, shutting down the government for 43 days, the longest in U.S. history. The Smithsonian Institution, using prior year funds, was able to stay open and operational until midnight, October 11. Since the government shutdown continued past the 11th, the Smithsonian closed to the public and officially shut down on October 12 resulting in the closing of the Smithsonian Institution, all its museums, research centers, and the National Zoo. All federal staff were furloughed. The effect of the shutdown was significant on the activities of the U.S. National Herbarium and the livelihood of its workforce.

Most Botany Department staff members were sent home in a non-duty and non-pay status. Due to the Anti-Deficiency Act, we were specifically instructed not to conduct work at our workplace or any alternative worksite. We were not permitted to continue our research as an unpaid volunteer, and thus all studies were halted. Federal employees were not permitted to use or access any Smithsonian system including email, and we could be subjected to fines and legal actions for doing so. Employees were prohibited from using all Smithsonian issued equipment, including mobile devices and laptops. Visiting researchers, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students who had planned to work in the herbarium and labs suddenly found that they could not access the important facilities and resources.

All staff travel and meetings at the National Museum of Natural History and elsewhere were canceled, postponed, or rescheduled. Researchers found themselves unable to participate and speak at scheduled workshops, meetings, and symposia, even within a volunteer capacity.

For the skeleton crew of Excepted Federal Employees that were deemed essential to protect buildings and collections, they came to the museum each day to assure the safety and security of the specimens and artifacts. The crew found the halls empty and dark, which contrasted starkly to the usual lively and vibrant atmosphere of the museum. We are grateful to Jun Wen, Eric Schuettpelz, and Sue Lutz, who monitored the U.S. National Herbarium during our forced absence, and to Carl Johnson and Byron Gwinn (weekend watering contractor) who kept the living collections at the Research Greenhouses well-watered and healthy.

Due to the shutdown, The Plant Press editor and the Department Chair decided to cancel The Plant Press October 2025 issue (Vol. 28, No. 4). All content that was scheduled to appear in that issue is now shown here in the January 2026 issue (Vol. 29, No. 1) with new additional content.

On the evening of November 12, 2025, the president signed an appropriations bill that funded the government at existing spending levels until January 30, 2026. Botany staff, fellows, and visitors returned to the museum on November 13, eager to get back to work. Fortunately for the Department’s federal workforce, retroactive pay provisions were granted. Regrettably, the Department’s contractors are left without pay for that same period. Here’s hoping that another shutdown does not occur this winter.