(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Colorado Representative Jeff Crank held a roundtable with financial leaders in Colorado Springs today to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and its impact on workers.
The shutdown, which has left many federal workers and military members without pay, has prompted local financial institutions to offer assistance to those affected.
“The federal government’s shut down now for two weeks. And, you know, we’ve reached the point where folks are getting pinched,” said Representative Jeff Crank.
With the Senate still not moving on any potential solutions to the shutdown, local federal workers, military members, and even contractors are feeling the burden.
President Donald Trump has found a short-term fix for paying troops this week by reallocating $9 billion from an R&D account at the Department of Defense.
However, their next paycheck is not guaranteed, prompting local credit unions and banks to step in with more solutions.
Jennifer Herzberg, regional outreach and engagement manager at Navy Federal, mentioned a 0% loan program for 60 days for military members, government employees, and contractors affected by the shutdown.
Glen Strebe, CEO of Air Academy Credit Union, stated that they are willing to help customers skip payments on loans if needed.
Financial institutions like ENT, A&B, and USAA Insurance are offering similar solutions to their customers.
Glen Strebe advised those affected to contact their financial institutions, credit card companies, and mortgage companies to discuss their situations.
Representative Jeff Crank expressed his commitment to ensuring federal workers are not harmed by the shutdown, mentioning his support for the Pay Our Troops Act currently in the Senate.
As the government shutdown continues, local financial institutions are stepping up to support affected workers, while efforts to resolve the situation in Washington remain stalled.
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