In “Wake-Up Call” Fitch Downgrades U.S., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were affected this week after Fitch Ratings downgraded the country’s credit rating. On Tuesday, leaders at Fitch issued a press release saying they had downgraded the United States of America’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating from AAA to AA+. Fitch is one of three nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations. The other two are Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings. Expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years, a high and growing general government debt burden, and the erosion of governance were cited as reasons for the downgrade. “The repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions have eroded confidence in fiscal management. In addition, the government lacks a medium-term fiscal framework, unlike…