Verizon offered out flexible payment arrangements to support federal staff affected by an ongoing government shutdown in the US, ensuring their mobile services remain uninterrupted.

Members of the US military, Coast Guard, first responders and other federal employees facing temporary financial strain can contact the operator to request bill payment deferrals. Impacted customers must provide verification of their federal or military employment when applying for assistance.

“Verizon is dedicated to supporting our customers and the communities we serve. We understand the ongoing federal government shutdown may create financial difficulties,” noted newly installed Verizon CEO Dan Schulman. “If federal employees need relief during the shutdown, they can reach out to us and we will keep them connected.”

The current US government shutdown is the first in nearly seven years, after Republican and Democratic parties failed to agree on resolving a budget dispute.

In the US, a government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to approve funding before the new fiscal year, forcing federal agencies to halt non-essential operations, furlough workers and retain only essential staff for critical services.

The shutdown has resulted in the unpaid suspension of 40 per cent of the federal workforce, or around 750,000 people, BBC reported.