On December 10, HUD published a notice in the Federal Register stating it was reopening the public comment period for its request for information on the home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) program and HECM mortgage-backed securities program (previously covered by InfoBytes here). The department sought input on the programs’ role in facilitating access to home equity for senior homeowners and on ways to enhance program performance, market participation, and consumer protections. The new deadline for comments will be January 5, 2026, extended from December 1, 2025, to allow additional input following the recent federal government shutdown. HUD stated that late-filed comments will be considered to the extent practicable.