Following Congress inability to hammer out a last-minute budget agreement, the federal government earlier today entered into a partial shutdown under which the greatest country on the planetthat shining example to all other nations in the worldwill be unable to keep the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery open, sources confirmed. Owing to widespread pay freezes and the furloughs of various federal government workers brought on by the shutdown, directors at the Gross Gallery confirmed that the worlds towering bastion of wealth, cultural might, and democratic ideals will be incapable of maintaining the 12,000-square-foot gallery devoted to the history and exhibition of postage stamps. Due to the government shutdown, I regret to report that the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery will remain closed until further notice, said National Postal Museum director Allen Kane, relaying the information that the earths richest, most powerful nation, and the envy of every other sovereign nation on the planet, cannot support a series of rooms displaying stamps. Without the necessary personnel, we sadly will be forced to keep our exhibits shuttered indefinitely. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to see our stamp gallery up and running again as soon as possible, continued the man living in the most powerful and enlightened society the modern world has yet seen. According to museum personnel, the inability of lawmakers to reach an agreement on a federal spending bill has necessitated the temporary cessation of day-to-day operations at the gallery, which features thousands of stamp-related exhibits and is located in the capital city of the worlds reigning superpower. A reigning superpower whose principles of democracy, freedom, and limitless opportunity stoke the hopes and dreams of oppressed peoples around the world, sources confirmed. Specifically, the funding shortfall will mandate the closures of an exhibit featuring a collection of some of the countrys earliest stamps, an interactive display in which visitors can mock up their own stamps, and a section of the museum that pays tribute to famous stamp collectors throughout history, as well as a gallery showcasing a collection of oversized stamps. The United States last year recorded a GDP of nearly $17 trillion. Its too bad we wont be able to keep the gallery open to the public during the shutdown, said museum curator Cheryl R. Ganz, citizen of a country whose founding fathers nearly 250 years ago cast off the yoke of British oppression in hopes of establishing a republica land of plenty, if you willdevoted to the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, famed for its Constitution and its undying commitment to that grand experiment we call progress. This is the kind of place that appeals to both casual stamp enthusiasts and devoted philatelists alike, so its a real shame. Hopefully the shutdown will end soon so people can come look at our stamp collection again, added Ganz, who lives in the veritable City upon the Hill that is America, that proud and indomitable nation known the world over as the very pinnacle of human civilization, which every year draws thousands of wide-eyed immigrants thirsting for freedom and opportunity to its golden shores. Sources also confirmed that the governments personnel cuts leave it unable to support numerous other federally funded sites, including New Yorks Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Montanas Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, and Colorados Black Canyon of the Gunnison, all of which will remain closed indefinitely until the leaders of the worlds preeminent global superpower are able to pass a spending bill through the most efficient and equitable government system yet produced by man. 