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GAO: Smithsonian Facilities in Decline

The Smithsonian Institution's maintenance backlog has grown to $2.5 billion as the museum complex faces problems such as corrosion of historic airplanes and leaky pools at the National Zoo, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Friday.

The GAO noted some progress in addressing maintenance issues since its last report in 2005. But it urged the Smithsonian to more thoroughly consider alternatives to government funding — including charging admission — to address the maintenance problems.

The new backlog estimate is an increase from $2.3 billion in 2005, the report said.
Read entire article at AP