Trump Undermines Bipartisan Housing Progress, Prioritizes Voter Suppression Agenda
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President Donald Trump refused to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, letting it become law without his signature as a stunt to pressure the Senate on his controversial voter-ID proposal, which critics say targets marginalized communities.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would not sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, instead allowing the measure to become law without his endorsement. This calculated move was framed as a protest against the Senate’s refusal to pass the SAVE America Act, a restrictive voter-ID bill that has been widely criticized for its potential to disenfranchise voters, particularly people of color and low-income Americans.
Trump took to social media to declare, "I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT." He had until Friday’s deadline to sign, veto, or let the bill become law automatically.
The housing legislation, which passed the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32, is designed to address the urgent housing crisis by lowering costs, accelerating home construction, reducing burdensome federal regulations, streamlining environmental reviews, and curbing corporate greed in the single-family home market. White House economists have sounded the alarm about a national shortage of 10 million homes, and industry groups have hailed the bill as a necessary step to relieve affordability pressures that disproportionately affect working families.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson urged Trump to sign, saying, "I hope he does sign it. If he doesn’t, it’s still law. We’ll still celebrate it." Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer condemned Trump’s actions, stating, "His priorities couldn’t be clearer: higher cost for families and more power for himself."
The SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for all voters, lacks even enough Republican support to pass. Trump’s refusal to sign the housing bill highlights the ongoing political battle over voting rights and immigration, as the former president continues to push policies that threaten democratic participation during a critical midterm election year.