LOS ANGELES – Carl’s Jr. is offering a $1 meal deal to those impacted by the federal government shutdown.
What we know:
The special meal includes a kids’ hamburger, a small fry, and a kids’ drink.
This effort is being led by Akash Management LLC, a local Carl’s Jr. franchise group that owns and operates restaurants throughout Southern California.
The $1 meal deal is available at select Carl’s Jr. locations across Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Inland Empire while supplies last.
SUGGESTED: SNAP benefits: California among states that will partially fund food stamps amid shutdown
To get the $1 meal, customers must show a valid federal employee ID, military ID, or SNAP/EBT card at the counter or drive-thru.
The offer requires no sign-ups and will be available as long as the government shutdown continues, while supplies last.
The backstory:
The U.S. government shutdown continues, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Congress no closer to ending their budget standoff.
It means that many — but not all — U.S. government services are temporarily suspended, and around 1.4 million federal employees are on unpaid leave or working without pay.
Also in the crossfire are the 42 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits. The Department of Agriculture planned to withhold $8 billion needed for payments to the food program starting on Saturday until two federal judges ordered the administration to fund it.
SUGGESTED: Food banks ramp up distributions, seek donations amid SNAP funding uncertainty
The Trump administration indicated in court Monday that it will only partially fund SNAP this month by using a $4.65 billion emergency fund. That left the program in uncertainty with no clear indication of how much beneficiaries will receive or when their cards will be loaded to buy groceries.
About 1 in 8 U.S. residents get an average of $187 a month per person on SNAP. Nearly 39% of recipients are children and adolescents under 18, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Why you should care:
This initiative provides immediate, tangible relief to federal government employees, military families, and SNAP or EBT recipients who may be experiencing financial strain due to the government shutdown.
SUGGESTED: Free food in Southern California for SNAP recipients: Here’s the list
If you are in Southern California and need food assistance, tap or click here.
The Source: This article’s core information about the $1 meal deal is directly sourced from Akash Management LLC, the local Carl’s Jr. franchise group implementing the offer across Southern California. Background on the federal shutdown’s financial impact on SNAP beneficiaries and operational details for the food program are drawn from Department of Agriculture (USDA) data and court filings regarding program funding. The Associated Press contributed.
Food and DrinkRestaurantsPoliticsConsumerLos Angeles CountyOrange CountyInland Empire