During government shutdowns, approximately 800,000 federal employees face furloughs or work without pay, missing their first payday on January 11. Businesses across the United States step in to ease the financial burden by offering freebies, discounts, and assistance programs specifically for affected federal workers. These initiatives range from free meals and grocery items to discounted services and financial support, often requiring proof of federal employment such as a government ID or contractor badge. Offers are typically valid only during the shutdown period and may vary by location or availability.
Many businesses provide immediate relief through food-related freebies. For example, Jaleo by José Andrés offers a free Flauta de Jamon Serrano (a Spanish sandwich) daily from 2 to 5 p.m. at locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia for furloughed workers with a government ID. Kraft operates a pop-up grocery store called "Kraft Now Pay Later" at 1287 4th Street NE in D.C., near Union Market, where current federal government workers with ID can pick up a bag of Kraft Heinz products from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily while supplies last. In return, Kraft encourages workers to pay it forward by donating to charity or helping someone in need once able. As of January 25, additional brands joined, expanding the offerings to include Tropicana juices, Land O’Lakes butter, Oscar Mayer cold cuts, Capri Sun juice pouches, Fillo’s American Made beans, and H&M winter clothing.
The FruitGuys delivers free fruit and vegetables to TSA workers at designated airports: on January 24 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; and on January 25 at Philadelphia International Airport. Great Harvest Bread Co. has set up "Shutdown Shelves" at over 50 locations, giving away free bread to federal workers. Smokin’ This and That BBQ in Florence, Kentucky, has provided free meals to furloughed government workers since December 22 and plans to continue through the shutdown’s end.
Restaurant discounts are also widespread. La Côte d'Or Café in Arlington, Virginia, offers a special discounted furlough menu for federal employees with ID. Zaytinya in D.C. provides a free Chicken Schwarma daily from 2 to 5 p.m. with government ID through the furlough period. In New York, BAM Rose Cinemas allows furloughed federal staffers to see the first show of any film Monday through Thursday for free by presenting a federal employee ID at the box office. Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar in Texas and Waldorf, Maryland, gives 50% off in-restaurant food purchases with an active government ID until the shutdown ends. Brickwall Tavern in Asbury Park and Burlington, New Jersey, and Philadelphia offers a percentage off food bills, starting at 25% on January 15 and increasing each day through the shutdown.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos provides unspecified discounts for U.S. federal workers; affected employees should email [email protected] or call 212-677-2900 for details. SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta gives furloughed federal employees two free beers with government ID. Taco Cabana, a Texas chain, offers 20% off the entire menu (maximum $20 savings) for affected federal employees showing valid ID issued by a department impacted by the shutdown; this is valid for dine-in or drive-thru at participating locations and continues through the shutdown unless otherwise announced.
Other freebies include services and products. Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia, hosts free learn-to-knit classes for furloughed workers and contractors; details are at www.fibrespace.com. Floyd’s 99 Barbershops provide half-priced haircuts and free massage shampoos to furloughed workers with valid federal government ID in states including Arizona, California (Los Angeles and Orange County), Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas (Houston and Austin), and Virginia. Bark! Pawsitive Petfood offers a free bag of pet food at eight Maryland locations with government employee ID. Too Cool Traffic School, serving Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, provides free courses for furloughed workers and their families.
Assistance programs extend beyond freebies. AT&T waives late fees, provides extensions, and coordinates revised payment schedules for affected customers as long as the shutdown lasts. Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon also offer assistance options. For food insecurity, the Los Angeles Food Bank helps in Los Angeles County. Coast Guard members can contact the American Legion in conjunction with Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at (800) 504-4098 for immediate financial support via the Legion's Temporary Financial Assistance program. The FEEA-NARFE fund offers $100 grants to active federal employee members not receiving pay due to furlough or excepted status, based on funding; applications require a furlough notice at https://bit.ly/2FptX97.
Federal employees can send letters to creditors or mortgage lenders explaining pay lapses, with sample letters from the Office of Personnel Management available at https://t.co/t6h6OzALsS. They may also be eligible for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, signed into law, guarantees compensation for furloughed employees and those working without pay once government operations resume. Employees should consult OPM and agency guidelines for post-shutdown pay questions.
Daily Burn offers a 100-day free trial of its streaming fitness program to U.S. federal employees impacted by the shutdown, with 50% off the next 12 months after the trial; sign up at www.dailyburn.com/govshutdown. Bootcamp Digital requires a valid federal email address matching the employee's name for access to offers; learn more at www.bootcampdigital.com.
Not all offers are currently active. Several promotions from healthcare and retail discounts, such as those from Dagne Dover, Danform Shoes, Dollar General, Eagle Creek, Emma Mattress, and ENELL, are marked as ended in the source data and thus not included as current furlough freebies.
Workers are advised to confirm offer availability with locations before visiting, as many specials end when the shutdown concludes or when supplies run out. Verification typically involves presenting a government or contractor ID, and some programs require email matching a federal domain.