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Feds Vow Statue of Liberty Stays Open as Hochul Refuses State Funding During Shutdown

Federal assurances to keep Liberty and Ellis islands open face uncertainty from National Park Service furloughs.

A woman photographs the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park during the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown in New York City, New York, U.S., October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
The entrance to Cabrillo National Monument is shown closed during the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown, in San Diego, California, U.S., October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
A view of a sign warning that the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed, with the U.S. Capitol dome visible in the background, on the first day of a partial government shutdown, in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
A would-be visitor looks into the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum which is closed, on the first day of a partial U.S. government shutdown, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

Overview

  • The Department of the Interior said both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will remain open to visitors during the funding lapse.
  • Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York will not pay to operate the federal sites, a break from prior shutdowns when the state covered costs.
  • Interior contingency plans furlough 9,296 of the National Park Service’s 14,500 employees, creating risks for staffing, safety and visitor services.
  • Keeping the sites open during the 2018–19 shutdown cost roughly $1.5 million, or about $65,000 per day, when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo funded operations.
  • Ferries and tours continued without immediate disruption on Thursday, but unions warn contracted security and cleaning staff could miss pay and lack backpay protections.