Democrats criticize President Trump over housing bill
Democrats are criticizing President Trump after he refused to sign a major housing bill that would have passed without his signature.
WASHINGTON — A landmark affordable housing bill became federal law late July 11 without the president’s signature, after President Donald Trump refused to sign the bill in protest of Congress’ refusal to pass legislation unrelated to the election vote review.
The bipartisan Pathway to 21st Century Housing Act had been sitting on President Trump’s desk since June 29, after it passed both chambers of Congress by wide margins with strong bipartisan support. He did not sign or veto the bill after 10 days, so it automatically became law without any action.
After showing no commitment to his plan, President Trump said in a July 10 post on Truth Social that he would not sign the bill because Congress had not passed the SAVE America Act. The bill, which he supports, would require a photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and ban universal mail-in voting nationwide.
“I will not sign any housing bill that has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House in protest of the fact that the United States Senate is incapable of passing the American Rescue Act,” President Trump said in a statement.
But Trump also chose not to use his veto pen.
Trump, who made his fortune over a decades-long career in real estate, has made it clear in recent days that he doesn’t like the housing bill, dismissing it as a “big yawn.” But vetoing the bill could be a political blow to Republicans ahead of midterm elections, where voters were concerned about rising living and housing costs.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), one of the bill’s lead sponsors, celebrated the bill’s official status as federal law in a post on X.
“Breaking news: The clock strikes midnight and a bipartisan housing bill is signed into law,” Warren said. “President Trump refused to sign it, but that didn’t stop him. This legislation is groundbreaking. It will build more housing, lower costs, and for the first time stop private equity from buying up homes.”
The housing bill is the first major piece of legislation passed by Congress in more than 30 years to address the nation’s affordable housing crisis. In June, it passed both chambers of Congress by overwhelming margins, 358-32 in the House and 85-5 in the Senate, with strong bipartisan support.
The sweeping bill includes provisions aimed at encouraging more manufactured housing, loosening regulations on small mortgage loans and raising caps on how much banks can invest in projects addressing low- and moderate-income housing.
This legislation overhauls several federal housing programs and streamlines the environmental review process for housing. It also seeks to restrict large investors who own at least 350 properties from buying homes.
X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.
