Trump Administration Suggests Furloughed Federal Employees Offer To Trade Services In Lieu Of Rent

On Thursday, The U.S. Office of Personnel Management tweeted sample letters and suggestions for federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown to use in contacting creditors, landlords and mortgage companies while their income is cut off.

"Feds, here are sample letters you may use as a guide when working with your creditors during this furlough. If you need legal advice please consult with your personal attorney," read the tweet.

Feds, here are sample letters you may use as a guide when working with your creditors during this furlough. If you need legal advice please consult with your personal attorney. https://t.co/t6h6OzALsS

— OPM (@USOPM) December 27, 2018

First of all, the OPM thinks federal employees have 'personal attorneys???'

If you download the sample letters, one includes suggesting to your landlord "the possibility of trading my services to perform maintenance (e.g. painting, carpentry work) in exchange for partial rent payments."

For the uninitiated, it may help to know that “consult with your personal attorney” is Washington-speak for “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal” and “sample letter” is what they used to call a Trump University diploma — oh, and the Trump-appointed Director of OPM lasted 7 months. https://t.co/0OSzRLRQTe

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) December 28, 2018

On day six of the #TrumpShutdown, OPM is advising govt employees to send mercy letters to creditors, consult “personal attorneys,” and barter w/landlords over rent. Americans’ lives are being upended by Trump’s temper tantrum. This is a disgrace. https://t.co/Ds7T78uIVr

— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) December 27, 2018

This is all bad. Creditors rarely care and rarely forget. Personal attorney? https://t.co/cnBlTgDdU6

— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) December 28, 2018

Consult my personal attorney? And pay with what, my salty sarcasm and Dad jokes? Incredibly useless advice from OPM. #shutdown #shitshow pic.twitter.com/GzmsNTowAK

— David Glenn (@WxPermitting) December 28, 2018

Speaking as one of those "Feds," it's nice of you to offer meaningless letters and suggest - while we have no pay coming in - that we incur legal expenses as well while we descend into debt. Thanks so much.

— Jeff Patterson (@JeffLPatt) December 28, 2018