Trump asks Congress for $4.9 billion loan to help cash-strapped Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for a $4.9 billion loan to help the cash-strapped Puerto Rican government pay its bills as it struggles to recover from devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, an administration official said. The community disaster loan would include a $150 million advance, the administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The $4.9 billion loan would help them with short-term liquidity problems in financing," such as payroll and pensions, the official said. "The money cannot be used for debt service." (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Chris Reese)