Shop at your favorite federal agency’s gift shop
You don’t have to go to Nordstrom, Target or Macy’s to get your holiday shopping done this season. If you live in or near Washington D.C. there’s a whole other retail world out there for you to explore: the world of federal agency gift shops. The FBI, CIA and Secret Service shops require special permission to gain entrance but many agencies have outlets that are open to the public. And they’re definitely not your ordinary souvenir shops.
“The FBI had a pair of glow in the dark boxers that were really popular for a while,” says Emily Wax-Thibodeaux from the Washington Post. “But they stopped making them, probably not for political reasons, but because of production.”
But don’t worry, your tax dollars are not paying for this.
“Proceeds often go to employee associations, gyms, or for outings, morale boosters or they go to charities,” says Wax-Thibodeaux.
Stories You Might Like
We’re here to help you navigate this changed world and economy.
Our mission at Marketplace is to raise the economic intelligence of the country. It’s a tough task, but it’s never been more important.
In the past year, we’ve seen record unemployment, stimulus bills, and reddit users influencing the stock market. Marketplace helps you understand it all, will fact-based, approachable, and unbiased reporting.
