Congress has failed to approve a Continuing Resolution (CR) providing funding for most government operations. Therefore, spending authority for most of the government expired at midnight on January 19, 2018. Until legislation providing for funding is signed into law, many offices and programs of the federal government are now shut down. Items to highlight include:
- NFIP will not be able to issue new or renew flood insurance policies
- Delays with FHA processing due to short staffing
- Fannie and Freddie are expected to announce relaxed procedures that would permit closings to go forward without federal verification of Social Security numbers and IRS tax transcripts
- U.S. Department of Agriculture will not issue new rural housing Direct Loans or Guaranteed Loans
- The VA loan guaranty program will be operational
- The IRS is closed and has suspended the processing of all forms, including requests for tax return transcripts (Form 4506T)