Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Hang on! AND not for the high winds. Now when we talk trillions I begin to get confused, but I believe 4.9 trillion dollars comes out as: 4,900,000,000,000,000,000 This from the Houston Chronicle:

While the government isn't obligated to assist Fannie or Freddie in a financial emergency, many on Wall Street believe it would bail them out if there is a collapse. The idea that they are "too big to fail" enables the two companies to borrow relatively cheaply by issuing top-rated securities backed by mortgages.

Fannie and Freddie hold or guarantee around $4.9 trillion in home-loan debt, though under a 1992 law they are required to hold in reserve only a fraction of what is mandated for commercial banks.