Trump declines to sign bipartisan housing bill, allowing it to become law without his signature

Un compromiso bipartidista poco común

The legislation, officially titled the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, passed both the House and Senate in June with broad bipartisan support. It contains more than 40 provisions contributed by both Republicans and Democrats, making it a rare instance of bipartisan agreement on major legislation in a deeply divided Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered the bill to the president on June 29, starting the 10-day review period.

Among the bill's main provisions are waivers and speed-ups for environmental reviews on home construction projects, a cap on the number of single-family homes large corporate landlords can own, and a grant program for communities to develop "pattern books" of preapproved housing designs. The bill also removes a requirement that manufactured homes have a permanent chassis, a change housing policy experts say could save $5,000 to $10,000 in construction costs per manufactured home.

Disposiciones clave de la legislación

The bill does not add new housing funding to the federal budget but redirects existing funding to communities that build more housing. House Republicans removed a provision that would have required developers of build-to-rent homes to sell off those rentals after seven years. The bill allows developers to skip an environmental review if a house is built between two buildings that were already reviewed.

Trump had previously dismissed the legislation as "of minor importance" and called it "a big yawn" shortly after it passed. He abruptly cancelled a June 24 White House signing ceremony, citing his desire to pressure Republicans into advancing the SAVE America Act. "To me, compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn," Trump told reporters in June.

El estancamiento del SAVE America Act

The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot, and would create a national voter database using state records. The bill has stalled in the Senate, where it does not have the 60 votes needed to pass. Trump has long falsely claimed widespread fraud in US elections.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the housing bill on X as "one of the most significant pieces of housing legislation in American history," a characterization at odds with the president's own dismissal. The White House referred questions to Trump's Truth Social post when asked for comment on Friday.

Contexto de la asequibilidad de la vivienda

The housing bill takes effect against a backdrop of significant affordability challenges. According to Realtor.com, a household making $75,000 a year can afford fewer than a quarter of home listings available. In June, the median existing home cost $440,600, and rates for a 30-year fixed mortgage are currently around 6.5% on average.

The bill also places a cap on the number of already constructed single-family homes that large Wall Street investors can own, prohibiting corporate landlords that own at least 350 houses from buying more. Large investors nationally own about 3% of the single-family rental market, according to available data.

Researchers at Freddie Mac say private equity is only a small driver of the housing shortage, while staff at the Urban Institute and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance argue private equity can improve the housing shortage by renovating homes. Sarah Brundage, president of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, noted that a single housing development can take longer than an elected official's term from construction start to market, underscoring the long timelines involved in addressing housing supply.

Because the bill was passed by both houses of Congress, it will become law whether Trump signs it or not. Trump's refusal to sign amounts to a public protest rather than a veto, and the legislation will take effect automatically at midnight.