Rep. Subramanyam Asks Citibank to Address Effects of Shutdown on DHS Employee Credit Scores

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) is requesting that Citibank cease reporting negative information regarding late payments on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) travel credit cards to the credit bureaus. The Congressman sent a letter to Citibank CEO Jane Fraser about this issue.

"I understand that Citi is not responsible for creating this issue… Now that the shutdown has ended and DHS will be able to reimburse their employees, I respectfully request that Citi continue their commendable work to support federal workers by ceasing to report negative information regarding late payments on DHS credit cards to the credit bureaus. This will remove a significant burden for DHS employees who have suffered harm to their personal credit for failing to pay off government cards they had no way of paying for 76 days."

In the letter, the Congressman pointed out that the General Services Administration issues travel credit cards to DHS employees to cover expenses incurred in their official duties. These cards are in the employee's own name and tied to their personal credit. This can have unintended consequences during a drawn-out government shutdown, when agencies are unable to pay off employees' cards, causing delinquent balances to appear on their personal credit reports.

The Congressman's letter can be found HERE.

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