As the US federal government shutdown drags on, more parts of the government are affected as funding dwindles. The national laboratories, which are run by subcontractors, are now preparing to close as their Department of Energy funding runs out, the Nature News Blog reports.
Los Alamos and Sandia are to close within the next two weeks — on the 18th and 21st, respectively — while Argonne National Laboratory may stay open through the end of the month. In addition, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory will likely remain open through November, according to the Nature News Blog.