Housing Bill Set to Become Law as President Declines to Sign Over Voter-ID Standoff
A bipartisan housing bill will automatically become law at midnight after President Trump reiterated his refusal to sign it, citing the Senate’s inaction on a separate voter-ID proposal.
The 21st Century Road to Housing Act, passed by both chambers of Congress in June with broad bipartisan support, is slated to become law tonight at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time unless President Trump signs or vetoes it. The president has repeatedly said he will not sign the measure, stating his protest is over the Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act, a voter-ID bill that requires proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote.
"To me, compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn," Trump told reporters in June.
"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," Trump posted on Truth Social.
White House officials declined to comment beyond referring reporters to the president’s social-media post. The housing legislation aims to improve affordability by encouraging new home construction and limiting the number of single-family homes large investors can acquire. It also includes provisions to streamline environmental reviews, create grant programs for pre-approved housing designs, and reduce costs for manufactured homes by eliminating a permanent chassis requirement.
Analysts note that while the bill could help lower construction costs and increase supply, its impact may be limited by local zoning rules, high material and labor expenses, and prevailing mortgage rates, which remain around 6.5 %. Sarah Brundage, president of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, said the legislation represents a necessary first step but emphasized that broader reforms are needed to address the nation’s housing shortage.