TGI Fridays offer free food to some federal workers during shutdown

(NewsNation) — Popular restaurant chain TGI Fridays is offering free meals to Transportation Security Administration and air traffic control employees amid the ongoing government shutdown.

TSA and air traffic control workers are considered essential and have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1.

Eligible employees with valid identification will be able to receive a free meal at nearly any of the restaurant’s 80 U.S. locations from Oct. 9 to 23, according to a company release.

What menu items are available?

Employees will be able to choose from four restaurant offerings, including:

• Cheeseburger with fries
• Chicken fingers with fries
• Crispy or grilled chicken sandwich with fries
• Chicken Caesar Salad

“TSA and air traffic control workers keep our country moving forward, and we wanted to do our part to support them,” said Ray Blanchette, CEO of TGI Fridays.

The promotion will be available all day, every day for the two-week period, unless the shutdown ends before October 23. Meals will be available for in-store dining at standard locations and exclusively for takeout at airports.