When government paychecks stopped, one US tax lawyer picked up a pair of tongs. As the federal government shutdown stretches close to a month, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) attorney, Isaac Stein, has become an unlikely social media sensation after being spotted selling hot dogs in his office suit from a street cart. His story, now viral on Instagram and TikTok, highlights the growing frustration and financial strain among federal workers caught in the political deadlock.
From tax code to hot dogs: how an IRS lawyer is surviving the shutdown
The US government shutdown, now nearing its fourth week, has left thousands of federal employees either furloughed or working without pay. The stalemate stems from a budget dispute between Congress and the White House over spending priorities and funding allocations.For many government workers, this marks one of the longest and most disruptive shutdowns in recent years. Agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been partially paralyzed, with many employees turning to side jobs or savings to make ends meet.Isaac Stein, a 36-year-old lawyer from Washington, D.C., who works for the IRS, decided to use his downtime creatively. Unable to report to work or collect his salary, Stein opened a hot dog cart near a construction site, still dressed in his professional suit and tie. Within hours, his photos and videos titled “Hot Dogs and the Tax Man” began circulating on social media, drawing millions of views and comments applauding his resourcefulness.According to local reports from The Washington Post and CNN, Stein had been running the food cart part-time for nearly two years as a hobby before it became his full-time fallback. But with the shutdown suspending his federal duties indefinitely, he decided to take the business public.Here’s how the story unfolded:
- Stein began selling hot dogs outside his apartment complex, near a construction zone frequented by workers.
- Photos of him wearing a grey business suit while serving customers spread quickly across Instagram, where the hashtag #HotDogLawyer began trending.
- Many users described him as a symbol of dignity and adaptability in the face of political and economic uncertainty.
- Within days, Stein’s stand had long queues, with customers stopping by for both food and selfies.
- Stein reportedly said he was “just making the best of a bad situation” and that “serving food beats sitting at home waiting for Congress.”
Social media reacts: ‘Mr IRS agent running a cash business’
On Instagram, comments poured in, blending humour, irony, and admiration. Many joked that the IRS lawyer had gone from auditing cash businesses to running one himself, with one viral remark reading, “Mr IRS agent running a cash business.” Others praised his creativity, saying wearing a suit instead of casual clothes was “genius marketing,” while some quipped that he was cleverly “using his business attire as a business expense.” A few users wondered aloud, “Is he reporting tips?” and “Let’s make sure he reports his cash tips,” poking fun at his day job. Not everyone was sympathetic — some said they wouldn’t “start bawling their eyes out for an IRS employee,” while others found the sight oddly fitting, noting he looked exactly like what they imagined an IRS attorney would. Some even thought the post looked like satire, asking if it was “ripped from The Onion,” while others remarked that he probably “should have money saved up.”
