The Office of Management and Budget cautioned, however, against drawing conclusions, given agencies' shifting reporting guidelines.

The parades of high school class trips, cherry blossom enthusiasts and families on spring break who will soon descend upon D.C. this spring may want to leave their selfie sticks at home. The Smithsonian's museums are the latest institutions to ban visitors from using the devices.

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery plans to release digitized versions of its 40,000-piece collection.