The longest government shutdown in United States history has left approximately 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working without pay. In the greater New York City area, thousands of workers have been affected, with many living without a paycheck since December 21. In response, a coalition of museums, restaurants, fitness studios, and other businesses across the five boroughs has stepped up to offer complimentary goods, services, and essential resources to help alleviate the financial strain. These initiatives range from free museum admission and Broadway shows to food distributions and hotel accommodations, generally requiring proof of federal employment for redemption.
Museums and Cultural Institutions
Several of New York City’s premier cultural institutions have opened their doors to furloughed federal employees and their guests. These offers typically require the presentation of a valid federal government ID at the ticket desk. The duration of these offers coincides with the ongoing shutdown.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Met (Fifth Avenue, Breuer, and Cloisters locations) offers free admission to all federal employees and one guest each for the duration of the federal government shutdown. Visitors may redeem admission by presenting a federal government ID at any of its three locations.
- Brooklyn Museum: Federal government employees get one free general admission ticket to the Brooklyn Museum with a valid ID.
- Museum at Eldridge Street: This museum is offering free admission for all federal employees currently on furlough, as well as three guests, during the government shutdown. This offer extends to federal employees residing in all states and territories of the United States.
- New-York Historical Society: The society offers free museum admission to all furloughed federal employees affected by the government shutdown, plus one guest.
- Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): In Fort Greene, the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Rose Cinema provides federal workers with free movie tickets to the first screening of any film each day.
Food and Beverage Offers
Restaurants, coffee shops, and food banks are providing meals and discounts to assist workers with daily sustenance. These offers generally involve the presentation of a federal ID.
Sit-Down Restaurants and Fast Casual
- Brother Jimmy’s: Offering free lunch to federal employees at its Murray Hill and 8th Avenue locations until Friday, January 25.
- Melba's Restaurant: The Harlem restaurant offers a free sit-down meal for furloughed workers (specific date mentioned: Tuesday, Jan. 22).
- Carrabba's Italian Grill: Order one of Carrabba's three signature dishes and get a free order of lasagne or spaghetti to take home. This offer was valid from January 22 through January 31.
- Romano’s Macaroni Grill: One complimentary Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs + Spaghetti entrée was available through Wednesday, January 23, or until the government shutdown ends.
- SideBAR: This Union Square restaurant offers a free entrée and a Bud Light draft for dinner.
- Hidden Grounds Coffee (Hoboken) and Saffron (Wychoff): These local restaurants are offering free food to workers who show their federal IDs.
Coffee and Quick Bites
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Government workers with ID can get a buy-one-get-one free sandwich deal.
- IKEA (Elizabeth, New Jersey): The store is giving free breakfast to any federal government employee with an ID from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. every day until the end of the shutdown.
Food Banks and Groceries
- Food Bank For New York City and Barclays Center: Along with Stop & Shop, they are hosting a pop-up distribution to provide food, vital products, and other resources.
- Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens: Will give out grocery packages, fresh produce, and provide onsite access to center staff and case workers to access individual needs. This takes place on Tuesdays at noon at St. Benedict the Moore Parish.
- The People's Pantry (Toms River): Open on Saturdays during the shutdown from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.
- JBJ Soul Kitchen (Toms River): This restaurant provides lunch to federal employees on Wednesdays.
Community Initiatives
- Pay It Furloughed Day: On Thursday, January 24, a nationwide initiative encouraged Americans to buy a beer for furloughed employees. In New York City, Bar 169 offered a free brew between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Non-furloughed employees could also fund a beer for others, starting at $7.50 per beer.
Health, Wellness, and Fitness
Physical and mental wellness offers are available to help workers maintain their health during this stressful period.
- Brrrn: The "cool temperature fitness experience" provides one free class at its West 20th Street studio to federal employees affected by the shutdown.
- Massage Services: While specific business names are not detailed in the source data, reports indicate that some businesses are offering free massages to federal workers.
Lodging and Travel Assistance
For federal employees needing to travel or facing housing insecurity, specific resources have been made available.
- Hotel Association of New York City: Free hotel rooms are available to furloughed federal workers who need to travel to New York City for personal emergencies during the shutdown.
Financial and Utility Assistance
Beyond direct consumer goods, financial institutions and utility funds offer support for bill payments and short-term cash flow.
- PayPal: Offering cash advances of up to $500 in efforts to help federal workers.
- Newark, NJ Utilities Fund: Residents (including those in the NYC metro area) who can document potential or actual utility shut-off with a notice from their utility company may be compensated up to $200 to assist in the re-activation of their utility services. Residents should visit the Newark Department of Health and Community Wellness office located at 110 William Street in the Division of Social Services between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Banks and Credit Card Companies: Experts advise that banks, credit card companies, lenders, and loan servicers have assistance options available. It is recommended to take advantage of this help before missing payments.
General Resources and Navigation
Navigating the availability of these offers can be challenging. Several centralized resources have been established to assist federal workers.
- NYC Mayor’s Office: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration has compiled a list of resources and services available to federal employees. This list can be found by calling 311 or visiting the city's official channels.
- Regional Food Banks: In addition to NYC-based resources, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey assists the state's 5,000 residents in financial limbo. Long Island Cares in Hauppauge connects furloughed workers in Nassau and Suffolk counties to food assistance. In Connecticut, the Coast Guard Academy opened to help Coast Guard and academy workers.
Eligibility and Redemption
To redeem these offers, federal employees generally need to present a valid federal government ID. Some offers have specific geographic restrictions (e.g., only for NYC residents or specific boroughs), while others, such as the Museum at Eldridge Street, explicitly extend to employees residing in all US states and territories. Dates for specific restaurant offers are time-sensitive, often spanning specific days in January 2019, while others (like museum admission) remain valid for the duration of the shutdown. Users are advised to check directly with the specific venue or organization for the most current terms.
Conclusion
The government shutdown has created significant financial uncertainty for federal workers in New York City and across the nation. In response, a diverse network of businesses and organizations has mobilized to provide essential support. From free admission to world-class museums and complimentary meals at local restaurants to financial cash advances and utility assistance, these programs offer vital relief. Federal employees are encouraged to utilize the resources provided by the Mayor’s Office and local community organizations to access these benefits.