New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Sunday said the state will reopen the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island after both were casualties of the federal government shutdown.
“We will not stand by as this symbol of freedom and opportunity goes dark,” Cuomo tweeted.
Shutting down the park jeopardizes an economic driver for the State of New York.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 21, 2018
But the Statue of Liberty is more than just an economic driver. This park is a symbol of New York and our values.
And her message has never been as important as it is today.
The National Park Service announced Friday that the Statue of Liberty and nearby Ellis Island would close to visitors as part of the shutdown, likely because they do not employ "essential" federal staff.
Democrats have opposed any funding measure without assurances of a fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects certain immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. An aide to President Trump
Donald John TrumpDems flip Wisconsin state Senate seat Sessions: 'We should be like Canada' in how we take in immigrants GOP rep: 'Sheet metal and garbage' everywhere in Haiti MORE on Sunday said the president is open to including some protections in a funding bill.
The shutdown impacts federally-operated parks and monuments. The Smithsonian Institution announced its museums would remain open through the weekend, but would shutter on Monday if Congress was unable to reach a funding deal. The Trump administration has said, however, that national parks and open-air monuments such as the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., will remain open.
Cuomo, 60, has positioned himself as a staunch opponent of Trump and his policies. He is considered a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, but is seeking a third term as governor this year.