Navigating the Capitol Campus During a Shutdown
With members of Congress working late, it might be hard to think about returning to Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
Here’s the essential information employees will need to enter the Capitol campus if the government slides into shutdown: On the Senate side, the north door will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or 30 minutes after the chamber adjourns. The Senate Carriage Entrance is open 24 hours. Senate visitors can enter through the Capitol Visitor Center north screening facility from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or until half an hour after adjournment.
On the House side, visitors will enter and exit through the south door and be escorted to and from the gallery. The Capitol will be open to members, staffers and visitors on official business, according to the House Administration Committee. The House Gallery will be open, but there will be only one checkstand, and storage of items will be limited.
On the Senate side of the campus, the 24-hour door to the Dirksen Senate Office Building will remain open around the clock, with only members and staff allowed in before 10 a.m. each morning. The West Dirksen Garage entrance is open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Delaware Avenue door to Russell Senate Office Building opens at 7 a.m., with only members and staff allowed before 10 a.m., and closes at 8 p.m., or 30 minutes after adjournment. The Russell Garage door is open 24 hours.
At the Hart Senate Office Building, the door facing C Street Northeast opens at 7 a.m., with only members and staff allowed before 10 a.m. It closes at 8 p.m., or 30 minutes after adjournment. The door facing Constitution Avenue Northeast is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The East Hart Garage door will be open for 24 hours.
On the House side of the campus, office buildings are open to members, staff and visitors on official business, according to the House Administration Committee. At the Longworth, Ford and Cannon House office buildings, only one door will be open, and members and staff will be directed to the front of all lines.
For drivers entering the Senate side, the barricade on the north side of Capitol Plaza will be open 24 hours, as will entrance at New Jersey Avenue and C Street Northwest. The barricade at First and D Streets Northwest is open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after the Senate adjourns. Parking lots will be open but not attended.
For drivers on the House side, the entrances at Washington and C streets Southwest, Independence and New Jersey avenues Southeast entrance, Second Street and Virginia Avenue Southwest and First and C streets Southeast will be open. All other access points will be closed. The Rayburn and Ford garages, plus parking lots 1 and 4, will be open for parking. Members and staff with permits for closed parking garages may park in open indoor parking or any outdoor open lot.