The partial government shutdown, now in its second week, has had limited impact on the FHA and VA lending programs but could be disastrous to federal rural housing programs if prolonged.

There are certain weaknesses in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ interim final rule on VA cash-out refinance loans that need to be ad-dressed to ensure borrowers and investors are protected from loan churning and other predatory lending practices.

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Loan Guaranty Service issued guidance to help detect, prevent and mitigate identity theft in connection with VA mortgage loans.