The Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point has been forced to stop classes because of the government shutdown.

The academy decided to begin its fall break a month early. The break, which normally starts Nov. 1, will last until Oct. 14.

The academy posted a statement to its website that says, "by swapping fall break from November to next week, we can both offer a greater degree of certainty and minimize the disruptive impact the shutdown is having on our academic calendar."

The campus will remain closed and the academy will have to pay to fly students back to school when the shutdown ends.