Ginnie Mae, or the Government National Mortgage Association, is a government-sponsored enterprise that provides liquidity to the mortgage market by securitizing mortgages. It was established in 1968 as part of the Housing and Urban Development Act and is now a wholly owned government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ginnie Mae's mission is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the mortgage market. The acronym 'MAE' stands for Mortgage-Backed Securities.