Amid a political stand-off that has shut down the government, a man has grabbed the nation's attention after he was spotted mowing the lawn of the Lincoln Memorial.
The shutdown has affected National Park services, with thousands of workers on unpaid leave.
So Chris Cox, from South Carolina, has taken it upon himself to do some of the work.
US media reports said Mr Cox was pushing a lawnmower and toting a chainsaw on the north side of the monument.
He had been tidying up around the memorial and the Reflecting Pool - until police asked him to leave.
"I figured out that I could play a valuable role as a janitor, if you will," Mr Cox, a 45-year-old chainsaw sculptor, told the Washington Post.
National parks and monuments are closed "So I started cleaning up the overflowing trash cans. I bought a blower and I've been blowing all of the trails, and today I cut the grass out here.
"I'm not here to point fingers. I only want to inspire people to come out and make a difference."
Meanwhile at the White House, Barack Obama is preparing to hold talks later today with Congress leaders to seek an opening in the stalemate that has caused the shutdown and is now threatening to bring about a federal default.
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said a default could cause "irrevocable damage".
In testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, Mr Lew said: "If Congress fails to meet its responsibility, it could be deeply damaging to the financial markets, the ongoing economic recovery, and the jobs and savings of millions of Americans."
The White House talks come as Republicans are considering advancing a short-term increase to the debt ceiling to avert a default. But it is not clear if they would attach any conditions to the bill.
Hardliners within the GOP have consistently pushed Speaker John Boehner to add conditions beyond what Mr Obama says he will accept.
The president has warned of potentially "catastrophic" consequences if the US breaches its limit, which is projected by the US Treasury to occur after October 17.
But he said he will not negotiate until Congress agrees to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling.
President Barack Obama has said he felt "exasperated" "The president remains willing to negotiate over the future direction of fiscal policy, but he will not negotiate over whether the United States should pay its bills," Mr Lew told the committee.
The shutdown came amid an effort by the Republicans to derail or delay Mr Obama's healthcare reform, known as Obamacare.
It has idled some 800,000 "non-essential" federal workers and is testing the patience of Americans.
The Pentagon has struck a deal with a charity group which will restore death benefits to the families of soldiers killed in action.
Leaving grieving military families without the death benefit during the shutdown had triggered outrage.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said: "I am offended, outraged, and embarrassed that the government shutdown had prevented the Department of Defense from fulfilling this most sacred responsibility in a timely manner."
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