Trump refuses to sign housing bill without passage of SAVE Act

President Donald Trump canceled the signing of a major bipartisan housing bill on Wednesday, putting one of Congress’s most significant efforts to address America’s housing crisis on hold.

In a social media post, Trump announced he would withhold his signature until lawmakers also approved the SAVE America Act, a voter ID measure that requires proof of citizenship to vote.

The legislation, known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, had already passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Senate approved it by an 85-5 vote, while the House passed it 358-32, reflecting broad agreement that the nation’s housing shortage requires urgent action.

The bill contains more than 50 provisions aimed at increasing housing supply and lowering costs.

• It would streamline construction approvals, environmental reviews, encourage housing-friendly zoning, and tie federal funding to local homebuilding targets.
• Support manufactured housing.
• Encourage the conversion of vacant commercial buildings into homes.
• Expand assistance for veterans.
• Help communities recover from natural disasters.
• Restrict some large institutional investors from buying existing single-family homes.

Trump shifts focus to election bill
He argued that the election measure is more important than the housing legislation and said he would wait before signing the bill.

The issue remains urgent. The US faces a shortage of more than four million homes, while the median home price has risen to about $403,000, making homeownership increasingly difficult for many families.

The decision has also exposed divisions within the Republican Party. Many GOP senators say the voting bill lacks enough support to clear the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance legislation, and Republicans hold only 53 seats.

The housing bill, on the other hand, will become law automatically within 10 days, unless Trump vetoes it. But Congress has the votes needed to override a veto.