Trump lets bipartisan housing bill become law without signature, citing voter-ID push

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would not sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, letting the measure become law without his signature. He said the decision was a protest against the Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act, a strict voter-ID bill he has championed.

Trump posted on social media, "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 the Friday deadline to sign, veto, or allow the bill to take effect automatically.

The housing legislation, passed by the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32, aims to lower housing costs, speed home construction, reduce federal housing regulations, streamline environmental reviews, and limit corporate purchases of single-family homes. White House economists have warned of a national shortage of 10 million homes, and industry groups see the bill as a step toward easing affordability pressures.

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 criticized the move, 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 sufficient Republican support to pass. Trump's refusal to sign the housing bill underscores the political tension surrounding immigration-related voting legislation during a midterm election year.