Here’s a remarkable detail about the present government shutdown. The Department of Homeland Security prepared a “to whom it may concern” letter to employees to forward to their creditors. It essentially asks banks, credit card companies and any other creditors to take pity on their employees who can’t cover their debt obligations while they are not being paid. The letter concludes by thanking creditors “for your patience and compassion towards our employees during this time.”
(It appears to be the same letter the DHS sent out in 2013 – the Ted Cruz/House Freedom Caucus shutdown.)
In a related vein, the Office of Personnel Management (a bit like the federal government’s HR department) tweeted these form letters federal employees could use when negotiating temporary payment adjustments with creditors.
In a more retributive outburst, President Trump suggested Democrats better hurry up and relent since it’s mostly Democrats who aren’t getting paid.
