No one was manning the phones at the White House over the weekend shutdown. Callers were greeted instead with an automated message blaming the blackout on Democrats. More than petty, this sort of partisanship was a Republican cheap trick.
But it was playschool compared to what former President Barack Obama pulled.
In 2013, Obama made certain to spread shutdown pain. His administration unnecessarily closed parks, barricaded monuments, and shuttered federal offices across the country. As one Park Service ranger explained at the time, “we’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can.” Five years later, Trump tried to do the opposite.
Here are five things forbidden during the Obama shutdown but allowed during the Trump shutdown.
Visit D.C. War Memorials
The same veterans who cracked Fortress Europa made quick work of the flimsy barricades surrounding the World War II monument in Washington, D.C. With wheelchairs and walkers, a motley division of Mississippi veterans wheeled and wobbled their way past park rangers.
No amphibious invasion was needed five years later. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that the war monument would remain open. Over the weekend, the media-savvy secretary could be seen working the crowd on the National Mall and welcoming tourists to the World War II memorial.
Ensuring our @NatlParkService parks are as accessible as possible. Wonderful to meet students from Illinois. pic.twitter.com/paKj45hWn1
— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) January 20, 2018
Tour the Smithsonian
Tourists from across the country cried foul when the Smithsonian was shuttered because of the shutdown. Millions of middle school students were disappointed to find the museums locked, barricaded with metal fences, and surrounded with miles of yellow caution tape.
No museums shut down this time around. The Smithsonian announced it would “follow normal operations and remain open” until at least Monday. Thankfully, Republicans and Democrats reached a deal and the national attic never needed to close.
Our museums, research centers & the National Zoo are OPEN today.
We will update our status beyond today as soon as we know. #governmentshutdown
— Smithsonian (@smithsonian) January 22, 2018
Camp at Yellowstone National Park
In 2013, one group of senior citizens was locked in and kept under armed guard at the hotel at Yellowstone. Eventually, the tourists were rounded up, loaded into buses, and escorted 2.5 hours out of the park because of the shutdown. According to one local paper, some of the foreign vacationers feared they were under arrest.
No one was forced to leave Yellowstone over the weekend. While some of the facilities were closed and some personnel furloughed, the great outdoors remained open.
During a Federal government shutdown, we do not monitor or update social media. Some Yellowstone areas are accessible, however access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services. For more information, go to https://t.co/x8adh6OHMb
— YellowstoneNPS (@YellowstoneNPS) January 20, 2018
Watch football overseas
Hundreds of thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines couldn’t watch the game last time around. When overseas, the military relies on the American Forces Network for sports. Without a spending bill, the troops couldn’t watch baseball or football.
Not this time. Nobody at a USO Center missed an NFL snap as the Eagles steamrolled the Vikings and the Patriots beat the Jaguars. The league stepped up and made the games available online for free.
Thank you for being willing but we were just informed AFN has been restored! https://t.co/PI2f8L5UMh
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 21, 2018
Explore Mount Vernon
When the government shut down in 2013, park police blockaded Mount Vernon, the homestead of President George Washington, even though it’s not a public monument — it is private and they’re owned by the Mount Vernon’s Ladies’ Association.
No one had to miss out this time around, though. The private museum stayed open, and no government officials tried to interfere in its operations.
WE’RE OPEN! The federal government may be closed, but Washington’s home never does. @MountVernon is a private non-profit organization & does not accept funding from federal, state, or local government. Get your admission tickets & plan your visit at https://t.co/9ll8aZUYid pic.twitter.com/HKzqxGa23Z
— Mount Vernon (@MountVernon) January 20, 2018
Granted, during both shutdowns, there were plenty of moving parts and plenty of actors who stepped in to fill the void created by the federal government. But where Obama took steps to heighten the crisis and make people feel pain, Trump mostly tried to do the opposite, even if causing pain might have been in his political interest.
If either party shuts down the government in the future, they should do their best to follow Trump’s example and make it as painless as possible.
