As the standoff over the government shutdown stretches on in Washington, D.C., Mayor Allan Fung has issued an executive order aimed at providing a degree of financial relief to federal employees who have been affected.

“It’s the right thing to do … I wanted to try to ease their concerns during their difficult times,” Fung said of his order, which exempts affected federal employees from the Jan. 15 deadline for property, motor vehicle and sewer tax bills.

The order, issued Jan. 15, indicates the city’s treasurer has received inquiries from Cranston residents who are federal employees.

“With no clear end in sight, this situation is leading to a serious concern that impacted federal government employees are suffering from a financial hardship and may not be able to pay their Third Quarter Property, Vehicle and Sewer Tax bills which are due and payable on January 15, 2019,” the mayor’s order reads.

To receive the exemption from the due date, residents must provide documentation verifying their employment at an affected federal agency and notify the city that they have not received a paycheck due to the shutdown.

“No interest or penalties shall accrue to these residents” for failure to meet the Jan. 15 deadline, the order reads.

The order will go out of effect at the conclusion of the shutdown, at which point tax bills for affected federal employees will be due within 30 days.