A major housing bill is set to become law at midnight. Trump says he won’t sign : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-07-10 09:55:00 — www.npr.org
Trump Dismisses Landmark Housing Bill, Demands Voter ID Legislation Instead
President Donald Trump has publicly downplayed the significance of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a sweeping bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the nation’s housing affordability crisis. Despite widespread praise from both Democrats and Republicans, Trump called the legislation “a big yawn” and refused to sign it after it passed Congress in June.
Trump’s Indifference and Demands
On June 24, shortly after the bill’s passage, Trump refused to sign, reiterating his position in subsequent statements. In earlier Truth Social posts, he dismissed the bill as “of minor importance” and canceled a planned White House signing ceremony. Trump made clear he would only sign the housing bill if Congress also passed the SAVE America Act, a strict voter ID bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot. That legislation has stalled in the Senate, lacking the 60 votes needed to advance.
“To me, compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn,” Trump told reporters in June. On Friday morning, he posted 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.”
Legislative Impact
Despite Trump’s refusal to sign, House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered the housing bill to the president on June 29, starting a 10-day clock. Without presidential action, the bill will become law automatically at midnight.
The housing bill, described by lawmakers as the most significant in decades, aims to make homeownership more affordable by encouraging homebuilding and limiting corporate ownership of single-family homes—an idea Trump himself previously promoted. The bill also includes provisions to streamline construction and reduce costs for manufactured homes.
Fact-Checking Trump’s Position
While Trump has downplayed the bill’s importance, experts and lawmakers from both parties argue it is a critical step toward addressing the nation’s housing shortage. The bill’s bipartisan support reflects broad recognition that housing affordability has become a pressing issue for American families.
Conclusion
President Trump’s decision to dismiss and refuse to sign the bipartisan housing bill underscores his prioritization of unrelated voter ID legislation over a widely supported effort to address the housing crisis. As the bill becomes law without his signature, the contrast between Trump’s rhetoric and the bipartisan consensus in Congress highlights the ongoing debate over legislative priorities in Washington.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/10/nx-s1-5885027/housing-bill-without-trump-signature