What did the federal government do to stimulate the economy and to minimize inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the closure of businesses and schools across the nation? Multiple select question. gave employers funds through the Paycheck Protection program to keep employees on their payrolls deregulated industries in order to allow industries to operate free of government oversight extended social benefits, such as unemployment, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, rental assistance, and other health programs closed down various agencies within the federal government, furloughed non-essential personnel and suspended multiple programs in order to save money on unnecessary expenditures passed the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES, 2020) the Consolidated Appropriations Act (2021), and the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA, 2021)