October 28, 2025 12:46 AM IST
First published on: Oct 28, 2025 at 12:46 AM IST
Share
Comments
Print
Share
Whatsapp
twitter
Facebook
A person walks with a meal from chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen as they distribute more than 1100 meals for federal workers and their families in Canal Park, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
World Central Kitchen, a US-based not-for-profit, began serving free meals to furloughed federal workers in Washington, DC, as the government shutdown entered its 27th day. Nearly a month into the US government shutdown, around 670,000 federal employees have been furloughed, while about 730,000 are working without pay. 830,000 employees are working with some form of pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. This has left many to queue up in front of food banks, which are also struggling to deal with the influx.
Workers with chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen distribute more than 1100 meals for federal workers and their families in Canal Park, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Free food for furloughed federal workers
According to World Central Kitchen (WCK) , which runs public kitchens and distributes meals in war zones and in the aftermath of natural disasters, furloughed federal workers in the US capital can get fresh food, ranging from vegetarian to meat options, and fruit and water. WCK, which was founded in 2010 by Spanish-American chef José Andrés, said the NGO will continue feeding federal workers throughout the shutdown.
Story continues below this ad
Workers with chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen distribute more than 1100 meals for federal workers and their families in Canal Park, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
starting to get real
Many federal workers missed their first full paychecks on Friday, and some faced tough choices. Elizabeth Anderson, a furloughed NASA employee, told The Associated Press that it was tough being a federal worker during this moment. She said the food provided “a little extra cushion for the furlough.” Humberto Lopez, a furloughed federal worker with the Department of Defense, said he is starting to feel the financial squeeze of the shutdown. “It’s starting to get real,” he told AP, while waiting in line for food. “You know you can’t sustain this for much longer.”
A meal is checked as workers with chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen distribute more than 1100 meals for federal workers and their families in Canal Park, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Union calls for end of shutdown
Meanwhile, the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers on Monday called for Democrats in Congress to end the ongoing government shutdown by voting for the stopgap funding measure that Republicans have proposed. “No half measures, and no gamesmanship. Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay – today,” Everett Kelly, president of AFGE, which represents over 800,000 workers, said.
Share
A person walks with a meal from chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen as they distribute more than 1100 meals for federal workers and their families in Canal Park, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) 
