Government shutdown

A lapse in rental-assistance funding, an understaffed FHA and other effects of the government shutdown are causing real harm to families, said the chair of the House Financial Services Committee.

The agency wants mortgage servicers to extend special forbearance plans to those affected by the partial government shutdown and evaluate borrowers for loss-mitigation options.

As the government shutdown enters its third week, mortgage servicers are activating the response plans they normally use during hurricanes and wildfires to assist federal workers who may have trouble paying their mortgages.

Borrowers and financial institutions may be feeling the strain from reduced operations at the FHA and IRS, which has suspended the release of certain income documentation during the budget impasse.

The announcement rescinded the agency's earlier guidance issued to industry partners to suspend sales operations as a result of the current lapse in funding from Congress.

Lawmakers and industry groups were caught off guard when FEMA said it wouldn't issue flood insurance policies during the government shutdown, despite an extension passed last week.

Top U.S. financial regulators assured Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin during a hastily organized call they are seeing nothing out of the ordinary in markets.

Here's a look at what happens at five federal agencies that support the mortgage industry during a government shutdown.