D.C. college students and high school marching bands from all over the country have a lot riding on whether the government shuts down Friday at midnight.
The 13 marching bands — all of which have raised more than $100,000 each to travel to D.C. — are part of roughly 5,000 participants in this year’s Cherry Blossom Parade, which wouldn’t be able to use its National Park Service permits during a shutdown. Meanwhile, University of D.C.’s roughly 400 graduating students could be held in limbo if the school is forced to close.
| Museums offering discounts this weekend |
| Corcoran Gallery of Art: Free coffee and light refreshments; free admission to those with government ID |
| Newseum: Buy one ticket get one free Apr. 9-11. Download coupon on www.newseum.org. |
| President Lincoln’s Cottage: Half off for those with government ID |
| Madame Tussauds: $5 off admission |
| Source: Destination D.C. |
Diana Mayhew, president of the Cherry Blossom Festival, said she has assured the participants she is doing everything to ensure the show will go on. The festival has identified a shorter route for the parade along Constitution Avenue between Seventh and 15th streets, and is awaiting approval from the District police department.
“We will fight to the end to make it happen,” Mayhew said, noting the festival also is appealing to the federal Office of Management and Budget.
With the deadline closer, OMB on Thursday evening issued a directive to agencies on how to furlough employees and a guideline on shutdown dos and don’ts.
The threat of a shutdown comes during one of the busiest times of the year for tourism in the nation’s capital as roughly 1 million visitors typically visit the city during the Cherry Blossom Festival to kick off the spring season. Smithsonian museums — including the National Zoo — would be closed. However, roughly one dozen museums still will be open this weekend, some of which plan on offering discounts.
Jim Dinegar, president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, said the stakes for the region are higher now than in March when the first budget deadline was extended.
“Frankly, if this were inevitable, they should have done it when they first had the chance a few weeks back,” Dinegar said.
That’s also true for UDC, which would be forced to close in a shutdown. The school’s roughly 6,000 students are scheduled to start final exams next week and graduation is a few weeks away.
UDC spokesman Alan Etter called the situation outrageous.
“Our UDC students who are targeted to graduate … are now put at a disadvantage when it comes to getting jobs because of this delay,” he said.
D.C. public schools are exempt from a shutdown.
Examiner reporter Lisa Gartner contributed to this report.
