D.C. is coming together to help its federal workers

The latest: The Trump administration is upping its mission to scale back the federal workforce by telling agencies Wednesday that they had two weeks to prepare for permanently eliminating positions and large-scale layoffs.

• This is on top of the thousands of workers and contractors who've already been fired during the first six weeks of Trump's tenure.
• Meanwhile, jobless filings in D.C. last week hit the highest numbers since March 2023.

State of play: Several local groups and businesses are offering free services and events, as well as funds, to employees affected by DOGE's cuts.

• Theatre Washington has compiled a list of venues like Arena Stage and Woolly Mammoth offering free or discounted shows to laid-off workers looking for a mental break.
• Others are offering free and discounted professional services, like headshots, financial planning and website help for job searchers.
• Plus: Mobile mechanic group Roda is offering 30% off services for affected feds.

What they're saying: "My big immediate concern is for the young analysts and paralegals who moved here for public service — many with no savings, who will receive no severance, and now have no health insurance," former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau worker Charlotte Hancock, who says she was laid off via the DOGE cuts, writes to Axios.

• Hancock and others have organized a fundraiser to help recently fired career civil servants under the age of 30 who can't rely on financial support from a partner or parents.

Looking for child care? She's also organized a spreadsheet of former feds — all with established background checks — now looking for babysitting jobs to cover expenses.

Zoom in: D.C.'s hospitality industry is always among the first to step up — whether it's federal government "shutdown specials" or a full-scale emergency response like José Andrés launched during the 2019 government closure.

• Right Proper Brewing Company, for example, offers one free beer per fed at its Shaw and Brookland locations.
• Anyone can pay it forward and buy a beer ($8) for workers online. Co-owner Leah Cheston tells Axios they have around 100 pre-paid beers up for grabs in Shaw, and 85 in Brookland.
• In more beverage news: Impacted feds get free coffee on Fridays at People's Book in Takoma Park.

Meanwhile, Hilana Falafel encourages folks struggling financially to DM the business privately for a special discount.

• Mixt Food Hall offers a networking opportunity every Monday (10am-12pm) starting March 3 with free coffee.

The intrigue: Pet parents can find comfort at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Tenleytown, which just opened a big new state-of-the-art facility — and is waiving fees for emergencies and sick visits, and offering deferred payment programs for federal workers and contractors who've lost jobs.

• Once word got out, the hospital received "an outpouring of kindness" from pet owners asking how they could help.
• Kieran Mara, EVG Specialty Network CEO, tells Axios that the hospital has received around $2,300 in donations to a fund earmarked for federal employees that covers complex medical care for pets.

"We understand how difficult it can be to manage emergency or illness-related pet care, particularly during financial hardship," says Mara, who notes the near century-old institution has launched similar programs in the past during shutdowns.

• So far, they've worked with about 10 clients who've lost government-related jobs. "Initiatives like this bring a deep sense of pride and boost morale throughout our hospital," says Mara.

Things are moving so fast that it's tough to stop and smell the roses, but one Alexandria flower shop encourages it.

• Petals Edge Floral Design in Old Town was gifted over 750 roses by its wholesaler, Potomac Floral, to give away this week.