Trump says he won’t sign housing bill set to become law at midnight
Trump Blocks Affordable Housing Legislation Amid Election Reform Dispute
Trump says he won t sign - President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will withhold his signature from a significant affordable housing measure, citing Congress's failure to advance election reform legislation. The decision places the 21st Century Road to Housing Act on course to automatically become law at midnight on July 10, unless the president unexpectedly exercises his veto power in the final hours.
Through a Truth Social message posted on July 10, the president clarified his reasoning, stating that the SAVE America Act—a piece of legislation he strongly supports—has not yet been enacted. This proposed law would mandate photo identification and citizenship verification for voters participating in federal elections while simultaneously banning universal mail-in voting nationwide.
"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 declared in his statement.
The housing legislation has rested on the president's desk since June 29, having cleared both legislative chambers with substantial bipartisan backing. Once the bill was transferred to the executive branch, a ten-day window opened for Trump to take one of three actions: sign the measure, veto it, or let it become law without his signature.
While Trump confirmed he would not sign the bill, he stopped short of announcing a veto. This distinction means the legislation will likely become law automatically if no further action is taken before the deadline expires.
Historic Significance of the Housing Measure
This legislation represents the first major congressional effort in over thirty years to tackle the nation's affordable housing challenges. The bill received overwhelming approval in both chambers during June, passing the House with a 358-32 vote and the Senate with an 85-5 margin. Such strong bipartisan support underscores the widespread recognition of housing affordability as a critical national issue.
Trump, whose wealth stems from decades of real estate development, has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the bill, characterizing it as unremarkable. However, political analysts suggest that vetoing the legislation could create complications for Republicans heading into the midterm elections. With housing costs and the general cost of living ranking among voters' top concerns, rejecting the measure might prove politically costly.
Key Provisions and Future Implications
The comprehensive legislation contains multiple provisions designed to stimulate manufactured housing production and reduce regulatory barriers for small-dollar mortgages. Additionally, it raises the ceiling on bank investments dedicated to projects serving low- and middle-income communities.
Further reforms include streamlining environmental review procedures for housing developments and capping the ability of large investors—defined as those owning at least 350 properties—from purchasing residential homes. These measures aim to increase housing supply while preventing corporate consolidation in the real estate market.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a trusted ally of the president, told USA TODAY in June that Trump had no intention of vetoing the bill, though he hoped the president would sign it to claim "partial ownership" of the achievement.
Meanwhile, the SAVE America Act continues to face obstacles in Congress. Despite repeated presidential appeals to Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster—the sixty-vote threshold required to advance most legislation—the bill remains stuck. The question of whether fifty senators would support removing the filibuster remains unresolved.
All Senate Democrats have voiced opposition to the SAVE America Act. Furthermore, four Republican senators—Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina—each cast votes against incorporating the legislation into Republicans' seventy-billion-dollar budget package during a June motion.
The standoff between the president and Congress over election reform highlights the complex interplay between domestic policy priorities and political strategy as the nation approaches another critical election cycle.