U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said unpaid federal workerscould borrow to tide themselves over during the government shutdownrather than call in sick to earn a paycheck elsewhere.

“The banks and the credit unions should be making creditavailable to them. When you think about it, these are basicallygovernment-guaranteed loans” because “they are eventually going tobe paid,” Ross told CNBC in an interview on Thursday in response toreports of absenteeism undermining safety in the nation'sskies.

The longest shutdown in U.S. history entered its 34th day onThursday. Pressure is building on President Donald Trump and bothparties in Congress to resolve the dispute, as federal workers willmiss their second paychecks on Friday.