A bipartisan housing bill designed to make homeownership more affordable is now in limbo after President Donald Trump abruptly canceled plans to sign the legislation, saying he wants Congress to first pass a separate election measure.
“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The move injects uncertainty into legislation that had won support from both Republicans and Democrats at a time when housing affordability remains a major concern for Americans across the country.
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The 21st Century Road to Housing Act includes dozens of provisions aimed at expanding housing access and reducing barriers to homeownership. Among them are a pilot program for small-dollar mortgages under $100,000, changes to environmental review requirements for new construction and grants to help communities speed up housing development through preapproved building plans.
The bill also would restrict large institutional investors that own more than 350 single-family homes from purchasing additional properties, while still allowing them to build homes intended for rental use.
Trump has been trying to get Republicans to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act for months, but Republican leadership has said there aren't the votes to get the bill across the finish line.
The president's decision could frustrate supporters of the housing package, which had been touted as a rare bipartisan breakthrough on an issue lawmakers in both parties say needs urgent attention.
It remains unclear whether Trump ultimately intends to sign the housing bill or veto it.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he still expects the president to sign the bill into law within 10 days, but Trump has not publicly made a similar commitment.
