Bill > S3156

This bill provides federal employees and certain contractors with the ability to request mortgage forbearance during government shutdowns (periods of lapse in appropriations). Specifically, any federal worker or contractor who is not being paid during a government shutdown can request a 90-day forbearance on their federally-backed mortgage loan by submitting a request to their loan servicer and affirming financial hardship. During the forbearance period, no additional fees, penalties, or interest can accrue beyond the normal scheduled amounts, and after the forbearance, borrowers will not be required to make a lump-sum payment to catch up. The bill requires agency heads to notify employees of these rights within 10 days of a shutdown, and it also mandates that credit reporting agencies continue to report these mortgage accounts as "current" during the forbearance period. Importantly, the bill does not forgive the mortgage payments, only temporarily suspends them. The provisions would retroactively take effect as of September 30, 2025, and apply to mortgage loans backed by entities like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, and the Department of Agriculture. Knowingly making a false forbearance request would constitute a criminal offense under existing federal law.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3156/all-info