A sweeping housing overhaul will take effect at midnight Saturday without President Donald Trump's approval, marking a rare instance where major legislation bypasses the White House entirely. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act represents the most significant federal housing policy shift in decades, yet Trump has refused to sign it as leverage in an unrelated political standoff.
Congress passed the housing bill last month with overwhelming bipartisan support after weeks of negotiation between Democratic and Republican lawmakers. The measure addresses persistent affordability challenges that polling shows rank among voter concerns heading into the midterm elections.
Trump's refusal centers on separate voting legislation. He has conditioned any housing bill signature on passage of the Save America Act, which would impose sweeping new restrictions on voters and state election officials nationwide. A House version cleared that chamber in February, but the Senate lacks the votes to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
The standoff demonstrates Trump's willingness to leverage unrelated legislation to advance his voting agenda. Last month he canceled a planned signing ceremony that would have allowed Republican allies to highlight their housing work. He subsequently dismissed the housing measure as a "big yawn" and "so unimportant" compared to voting restrictions.
Speaker Mike Johnson sent the housing bill to Trump's desk on June 29, triggering a 10-day window. Under constitutional law, legislation automatically becomes law once that period expires if the president neither signs nor vetoes it. Trump posted Friday morning on Truth Social: "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 gave no indication he intended to exercise a veto, effectively guaranteeing the housing bill's passage regardless of his signature. The White House declined to comment beyond his social media statement.
Democratic leaders quickly attacked the move. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X: "Republicans would rather make it harder to vote than easier to afford a home." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump's priorities revealed his focus on "higher costs for families and more power for himself."
The housing confrontation reflects broader tensions over Trump's election concerns. On Thursday, Trump dismissed the last three commissioners of the Election Assistance Commission, an independent federal agency that assists state and local election administration. The removals underscore his continued focus on reshaping how elections function ahead of November's midterms, where Republicans are defending Senate and House majorities.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump got his housing bill to pass anyway. Holding it hostage without actually blocking it is political theater that fools no one."
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