Government employees often have access to a variety of discounts and freebies from retailers, restaurants, and service providers. These offers are frequently available to federal workers as a form of appreciation for their service and can be particularly relevant during periods of financial uncertainty, such as government shutdowns. The availability and specifics of these offers can vary, and many require verification of employment status. This article details the types of freebies and discounts available to federal employees, based on information from reliable sources, including official announcements and verified discount platforms.
Current Freebies During Government Shutdowns
During government shutdowns, some businesses extend special offers to furloughed federal employees as a gesture of support. These deals are often time-limited and may be specific to certain groups of workers or locations.
TGI Fridays announced a free meal offer for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air traffic control workers during a shutdown in October 2025. This offer provided one free meal daily from a special menu, including a cheeseburger with fries, chicken fingers with fries, crispy or grilled chicken sandwiches with fries, or a chicken Caesar salad. The deal was valid at more than 80 U.S. locations, including airports, but excluded Atlanta airport locations, which had an independent deal for TSA employees. To redeem, eligible workers needed to present a valid employee ID. The offer was scheduled to run through October 23.
&pizza, a Washington, D.C.-based chain, offered federal workers 30% off their orders during a shutdown period in October 2025. To access this deal, customers were required to show a federal or military ID in stores.
Compass Coffee, another Washington, D.C.-founded chain, provided a free pastry with any drink purchase for federal workers during a shutdown. This required showing a government ID when ordering.
Hard Rock Cafe in Washington, D.C., offered government workers special deals throughout a shutdown, including all-day Happy Hour specials with $3 domestic drafts, $6 single well liquor, $5 select wines, and food deals starting at $8, plus $12 entrées. This offer was available in the bar and lounge only and required a government ID for verification.
Ruby Slipper Ruby Sunshine, a New Orleans-founded chain, offered a free entrée (valued at up to $20) to furloughed government employees at all 26 locations across the southern U.S. This offer was available from October 13 through October 31 and required a valid government ID for verification.
Thompson Restaurants, which operates Matchbox, Milk & Honey, Makers Union, and Hen Quarter in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., provided a 20% discount for all government employees during a shutdown period.
Ongoing Federal Employee Discounts
Beyond shutdown-specific offers, many companies provide ongoing discounts to federal employees. These discounts often require verification of employment, frequently through services like ID.me.
Travel and Accommodation
Hotels
- Caesars Hotels: Government employees can receive an extra 10% off hotel rates after verifying their identity through ID.me.
- Choice Hotels: Special rates are available for government employees.
- Cromwell Hotel and Casino: Government employees can get an extra 10% off hotel stays after verifying eligibility through ID.me.
- Expedia: Government employees can save 8% on select hotel bookings, including flights, hotels, and car rentals.
- Hotels.com: Government employees can receive 8% off on bookings.
Car Rentals
- Thrifty: Offers car rental discounts for government employees and their families.
Family Entertainment
- Dave & Buster’s: Government employees can get a $20 arcade card for $15 by confirming their eligibility via ID.me.
- Diggerland USA: Offers a 12% discount, requiring verification via ID.me.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Provides exclusive savings for government employees.
Financial and Insurance
- GEICO: Offers special rates on car insurance for government employees and membership discounts for eligible individuals.
- USAA: In case of a government shutdown, impacted members can access a no-interest loan and other payment relief options.
- TurboTax: Government employees can receive up to 20% off on tax preparation software, with verification through ID.me.
Automotive
- AAA: Government employees can receive an exclusive up to $5 cash back on AAA memberships through ID.me.
- Cardo Systems: Offers a 20% discount on motorcycle communication systems after confirming status with ID.me.
- MOVE Bumpers: Provides a 15% discount on custom bumper kits for trucks and SUVs after ID.me verification.
- OnX Offroad: Government employees can get 40% off on off-road GPS and mapping services with ID.me verification.
- Tirebuyer: Offers a 10% discount on top-quality tires after verifying with ID.me.
- TRUCKS R US: Provides a 10% discount on truck accessories and parts through ID.me verification.
Food and Grocery
- BJ’s: Government employees can get a $10 welcome reward when joining the Club Card Membership and verifying eligibility through ID.me.
- Good Chop: Offers up to $12 cash back on high-quality meat and seafood orders after confirming government status through ID.me.
- Home Chef: Provides 50% off the first four boxes on meal kit deliveries.
- Sam’s Club: Current government employees are eligible for discounts on club memberships, including a special $20 membership offer.
Retail and Electronics
- Apple: Federal employees can purchase select Apple products and third-party solutions for themselves and immediate family members at a special price.
- Gift Baskets Overseas: Federal employees, retirees, and military members can save 10% on any order.
- Govx.com: An e-commerce site offering discounts to federal employees, military, law enforcement, and firefighters.
- ID.me: A platform that unlocks numerous discounts at major retailers for verified government employees.
- Microsoft: Government employees may be eligible for a discount through the Microsoft Home Use Program.
- Mowing Magic: Offers 5% off robotic lawnmowers.
- MVP Visuals: Provides a 10% discount for current and retired federal employees on custom displays.
- PODS: Federal employees are eligible to save 5% off the cost of the first month of storage or long-distance moves using a PODS storage container.
- Samsung: Government employees can save up to 30% on computers, tablets, mobile phones, appliances, and more.
- Ray-Ban: Offers 15% off on clothing.
Cellular and Wireless
- AT&T: Eligible federal employees can save $10 per month per line on the Unlimited Elite plan.
- T-Mobile: Employees of eligible government agencies can get exclusive offers based on their workplace.
Other Discounts
- L.L.Bean: Offers a 10% discount to government employees.
- Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI): Provides a 10% dividend on full-price items for government employees.
- The North Face: Offers a 10% discount to government employees.
How to Access Government Employee Discounts
To access most government employee discounts, verification of employment is required. The most common method is through the ID.me platform, which allows individuals to verify their government employment status securely. Once verified, users can access a wide range of discounts from participating retailers and service providers.
For specific deals, such as the TGI Fridays offer during a shutdown, employees may need to present a valid government ID directly at the point of sale. It is important to check the terms and conditions of each offer, as eligibility requirements, expiration dates, and participating locations can vary.
Conclusion
Federal employees have access to a variety of freebies and discounts, particularly during government shutdowns when businesses often extend special offers. These include free meals, discounted products, and services across categories such as travel, entertainment, automotive, food, and retail. Access to these offers typically requires verification of government employment, often through services like ID.me or by presenting a valid government ID. While the offers mentioned are based on specific announcements and verified discount lists, availability may change, and employees should confirm details directly with the provider.