New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- The US government has been shut down for 19 hours after Congress failed to reach a funding deal at midnight. The deadlock, fuelled by Republican and Democratic clashes over enhanced Obamacare subsidies, has left thousands of federal workers in limbo.

While paychecks are frozen until the shutdown ends, local businesses in Washington DC are stepping in to ease the strain - with free coffees, food deals, and even free football tickets.

Compass Coffee, a popular DC-based chain, is handing out free morning brews and pastries. Over on Capitol Hill, whiskey bar Barrel is offering what it calls an "unhappy hour" - discounted drinks for federal employees.

It is not just food and drink. Colby's Dogcare Spa confirmed in an em...