Verizon waives late fees for furloughed federal workers

Telecom giant Verizon is offering a reprieve to its unpaid federal customers affected by the ongoing government shutdown. The company announced it will waive late fees and provide flexible payment plans for subscribers who can prove they're employed by the feds but aren't getting paid due to the impasse.

Verizon steps up to help struggling federal workers

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, among others, are feeling the pinch with no paychecks rolling in. To soften the blow, Verizon is allowing customers to call in and request a late fee waiver and payment plan setup. The catch? They need to verify their federal employment status.

This isn't the first time Verizon has made an effort to help its customers in extraordinary circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the carrier signed the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, promising not to cut off service or charge late fees to those unable to pay due to the crisis.

Today's move by Verizon comes as many federal agencies still remain unfunded, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Secret Service, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and FEMA, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers in an uncertain financial situation.