The American restaurant chain, TGI Fridays, announced that starting Thursday October 9 until October 23, air traffic controllers and TSA workers can get one meal each day for free at 80 locations around the country.
Air traffic controllers and TSA workers have been particularly impacted by the federal shutdown, with their paychecks suspended, which has indirectly led to many flight delays at airports around the United States. Paychecks of the workers have been delayed as the shutdown progresses. Some employees have called in sick.
The workers manage upwards of three million airline passengers and tons of cargo estimated to transit through American airports every day.
“TSA and air traffic control workers keep our country moving, and we wanted to do our part to support them,” said TGI Fridays’ CEO Ray Blanchette in a press release. “Whether they’re grabbing a meal at one of our airport locations during a shift, or sitting down at a neighborhood Fridays after a long day, we want them to know we appreciate them and we’re here for them.”
The restaurant said the meals are available to the workers from a curated menu all day , every day for the next two weeks while supplies last or the federal shutdown is lifted. Available entrees from the menu include cheeseburger with fries, chicken fingers with fries, chicken sandwich with fries, or chicken caesar salad. A valid airport employee ID is required to take advantage of the offer.
On Monday U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy held a press conference regarding the workers, and the impact of the federal shutdown on American airports.
“They are critical infrastructure,” he said. “They’re critical to the operation of the federal government, so they’re required to show up for work. Now what they think about as they control our airspace is ‘How am I going to pay my mortgage? How am I going to make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home, how do I put food on the table?’
“This shutdown has put way more stress on our controllers.”
Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, also spoke very briefly on behalf of members at the press conference.
“I’m going to leave the political discussions for the politicians during this shutdown,” he said. “I’m here to advocate for the end of the shutdown. We need to bring this shutdown to a close so that the Federal Aviation Administration, and the committed aviation professionals can put this distraction behind them and completely focus on their vital work.”
The current federal shutdown commenced October 1, 2025. There have reportedly been at least ten federal shutdowns in America since the 1970s.
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