Washington • Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Thursday said he didn’t understand why federal workers were visiting food banks during the government shutdown, saying they should instead seek low-interest loans from banks and credit unions to supplement their lost wages.
"I know they are, and I don't really quite understand why," Ross said on CNBC when asked about federal workers going to food banks. Ross is a billionaire and longtime friend of President Donald Trump.
"The idea that it's paycheck or zero is not a really valid idea," he said. "There's no reason why some institution wouldn't be willing to lend.