Statue Of Liberty To Remain Open Despite Government Shutdown

NEW YORK, NY — The federal government may be shut down but Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will both remain open. Under a deal with Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the state will pay National Park Service workers and operations costs — a cost of $65,000 a day — to keep open the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

The Park will reopen on Monday.

"The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and opportunity for all, and it is a gross injustice that this administration's dysfunction caused it to shut down," Cuomo said in a statement. "When this administration tries to deport immigrants, when they close down the Statue of Liberty, they are attacking who we are."

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan praised the move, saying the Statue of Liberty is an "international symbol and a beacon of hope," and one of the state's premiere tourist attractions.

"Democrats and Republicans here in New York agree that it should stay open and continue to welcome tourists and others regardless of any political differences that may exist at the federal level," he said.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said people must stand up to President Donald Trump's "hateful policies" during the shut down.

"Lady Liberty shines as a beacon of hope and opportunity to people around the world and is a symbol of our enduring democracy," he said.

The National Park Service says 4.5 million people visited Liberty Island in 2016 and that ut generates more than $263 million in visitor spending per year.

Cuomo reached a similar deal during the 2013 federal government shutdown.

Photo credit: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images