Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson announces that the US Treasury Department and Federal Reserve will lend money and buy stocks if necessary to aid embattled mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during a statement to the media at the Treasury Building in Washington, DC in this July 13, 2008 file photo. Paulson said he was acting after consulting with the Fed, the companies' regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and congressional leaders of both political parties. [Agencies]