The longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which began in December 2018, left approximately 800,000 federal employees furloughed or working without pay. In response, a wide array of businesses across the nation introduced "shutdown specials" and "furlough freebies" to provide financial relief. These offers ranged from free meals and restaurant discounts to deferrals on payments and zero-interest loans. For federal workers in Fort Lauderdale and other affected areas, these initiatives offered a measure of support during a period of significant economic uncertainty.
Many of these programs were designed to be easily accessible, often requiring only a valid government or contractor ID for verification. The offers spanned multiple categories, including food and beverage, transportation, fitness, and professional services. While some promotions were explicitly time-bound to the duration of the shutdown, others were extended or modified as the situation evolved. Consumers were advised to confirm offer details directly with participating locations, as availability and terms could change.
Nationwide and Industry-Specific Assistance
Beyond localized restaurant deals, several large corporations and service providers implemented broad assistance programs for federal employees. These initiatives were often available nationwide and addressed needs beyond immediate food requirements.
Wireless and Telecommunications
Major wireless providers offered flexible solutions for customers affected by the shutdown. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon all stated they were willing to work with affected government employees. AT&T specifically announced it would waive late fees and provide extensions or revised payment schedules for as long as the shutdown remained in effect. These measures were intended to help customers maintain essential communication services without incurring additional financial penalties.
Financial and Professional Services
Several companies provided free or discounted professional services. Visor, a tax preparation service, launched a government shutdown assistance program. Impacted employees could create an account and upload a federal government paycheck to claim free tax filing. Once registered, they could inform their Visor tax professional of their eligibility for the program to receive assistance through the process.
Boot Camp Digital offered federal employees three months of free access to its All Access Pass Training, a program valued at over $290. This provided access to more than 30 online courses covering topics such as LinkedIn, Facebook marketing, and online advertising. A valid federal email address matching the employee's name was required for this offer.
Daily Burn, a streaming fitness program, offered a 100-day free trial to U.S. federal employees impacted by the shutdown. Following the trial period, participants could receive a 50 percent discount on the next 12 months of service.
Automotive and Other Services
Too Cool Traffic School provided free courses for furloughed government workers and their families. To receive a promo code for a free course, affected individuals were instructed to email a photo of their paystub to [email protected] as proof of their lack of wages as a federal employee. This service was available in Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Food and Beverage Offers
The most common form of assistance during the shutdown came from restaurants, breweries, and food retailers offering free meals, discounts, and groceries. These offers were often localized, with specific chains or independent restaurants providing support to workers in their communities.
National and Regional Restaurant Chains
Several national chains implemented furlough-specific promotions. Condado Tacos offered a free taco to furloughed employees at its locations in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania through January 30, with no purchase necessary. Taco Cabana provided a 20 percent discount on its entire menu for federal employees at all participating locations, with a maximum savings of $20 per transaction. The offer required a valid federal government employee ID and was stated to continue through the shutdown.
White Castle offered a free combo meal (combos 1-6) or any breakfast combo meal to federal employees affected by the shutdown on January 29 at nearly 400 locations. Whataburger announced a free Taquito and coffee every morning from 6 to 11 a.m. at select locations with a valid federal ID. This offer was initially announced for the duration of the shutdown but was later extended.
In New Jersey, Bubbakoo’s Burritos offered free meals to U.S. Coast Guard service members who presented a valid ID at specific locations. In the Midwest, B.G. Farma provided a daily discount that increased with each day of the shutdown, starting at 15 percent and increasing to 25 percent by day 25.
Independent Restaurants and Local Eateries
Many independent restaurants also participated in relief efforts. In Fort Lauderdale, Jaleo by José Andrés offered furloughed workers a free Flauta de Jamon Serrano from 2 to 5 p.m. daily at its D.C., Maryland, and Virginia locations. In Alexandria, Virginia, Fibre Space hosted free learn-to-knit classes for furloughed employees and contractors.
Smokin’ This and That BBQ in Florence, Kentucky, provided free meals to furloughed workers since December 22, continuing through the end of the shutdown. Pure Pizza in Charlotte, North Carolina, fed furloughed workers and their families at its two locations. Ruby Slipper Cafe in New Orleans, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida offered free meals to affected workers and their immediate families with a valid ID badge or business card.
La Côte d'Or Café in Arlington, Virginia, provided a special discounted furlough menu for federal employees. Farm Burger designated Fridays as #FurloughFridays, offering specials at its 11 locations until the shutdown ended.
Breweries and Beverage Offers
SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta offered furloughed federal employees two free beers when they presented their government ID. FunBars, a New York-based company, provided free food and drinks to furloughed workers through its network of bars and restaurants. Affected employees could email [email protected] or call 212-677-2900 to participate.
Grocery and Food Retail
Kraft operated a pop-up grocery store called "Kraft Now Pay Later" near Union Market in Washington, D.C. The store was open until the shutdown ended, allowing current federal government workers with a government ID to take home a bag of Kraft Heinz products daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. while supplies lasted. Kraft requested that workers "pay it forward" by donating to charity or someone in need once they were able. On January 25, additional brands including Tropicana, Land O’Lakes, Oscar Mayer, Capri Sun, Fillo’s, and H&M joined the initiative, expanding the offerings to include juices, butter, cold cuts, juice pouches, beans, and winter clothing.
Transportation and Entertainment
Some businesses offered services beyond food and professional support, including transportation and entertainment options for furloughed workers.
Transportation
Brightline, also known as Virgin Trains USA, offered federal employees free Smart Service rides between its Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach stations. Free rides could only be booked at the station, and federal employees were required to present their government-issued employee ID.
Entertainment and Recreation
Cyc Fitness provided free beat-based cycling classes to government workers affected by the shutdown at locations in New York, Madison, Wisconsin, and Boston. Participants could walk in 15 minutes before any class and present their government ID, though spots were subject to availability.
Rail Explorers Las Vegas offered free rides on the rails for furloughed federal employees and their families, as well as federal contractors impacted by the shutdown. The rides typically cost $45 per person. Reservations could be made by calling 877-833-8588.
The San Diego Symphony offered up to four free concert tickets to federal employees impacted by the shutdown for any San Diego Symphony Jacobs Masterworks program through May 26. Tickets could be reserved by calling 619-235-0804 or in person at the box office.
Eligibility and Redemption Processes
Most offers required verification of employment status. The most common method was presenting a valid government or contractor ID at the point of service. For online or remote offers, such as those from Boot Camp Digital and Visor, a valid federal email address or proof of employment (such as a paystub) was required.
It was important for consumers to note that many offers were limited to specific locations or had particular restrictions. For example, Brightline’s free rides were only available for booking at the station, and Condado Tacos’ free taco offer was valid only through a specific date. Farm Burger’s #FurloughFridays required checking individual location Facebook pages for participation, as offers varied.
Some businesses, like Whataburger, updated their offers after initial announcements. While the chain initially tied its promotion to the shutdown's duration, it later clarified that the offer would continue "every morning until further notice" to help workers get back on their feet.
Conclusion
The government shutdown prompted a significant wave of corporate and local business support for furloughed federal workers. These "shutdown specials" and "furlough freebies" covered a broad spectrum of needs, from daily meals and groceries to professional services and entertainment. While the majority of these offers were tied to the duration of the shutdown, they demonstrated a capacity for rapid, community-focused response during a national crisis. For affected individuals, the key to accessing these benefits was typically as simple as presenting a valid government ID or, for remote services, providing proof of federal employment.