Housing Bill Becomes Law Amid Controversy

A bipartisan housing bill has officially become law in the U.S. after President Donald Trump opted not to sign it, specifically protesting the Senate’s inability to pass a bill on voter ID requirements.

The Century Road to Housing Act was enacted on Saturday, automatically coming into effect due to a constitutional provision that requires action from the president within ten days of its congressional passage—action that Trump did not take.

On Friday, Trump shared on Truth Social: “I will not sign a housing bill that has been fully approved by Congress. This is in protest because we do not have the ability to pass a bill in the Senate, which enjoys a 97% approval rating among Republicans and a strong approval rating among Democrats who aren’t in politics.”

He further criticized the failure to pass the American Rescue Act, labeling it “outrageous” and a real danger to the politicians opposing it.

Despite not issuing a veto, Trump made it clear that his priorities lie with the Protecting American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE). This proposed legislation aims to ensure the integrity of federal elections by requiring proof of citizenship, like a REAL ID or U.S. passport, to register and vote in federal elections.

The bill managed to pass the House of Representatives in February, but it faced rejection in the Senate in June with a 49-51 vote.

In comments about the housing law, Trump referred to it as “very insignificant” when contrasted with the SAVE Act. “The SAVE Act is, well, it’s saving America from election fraud,” he remarked.

“Almost everything feels like a big yawn compared to the SAVE Act,” he added.

Meanwhile, Republicans have been urging Trump to approve the housing legislation, framing it as a significant win for affordability as they gear up for the upcoming midterm elections. In anticipation of losing support typical for the ruling party during these cycles, Republicans are looking to maintain control in Congress.

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) criticized the delay in signing the housing bill as “irresponsible,” asserting the urgency of addressing rising housing costs for the public.

The Century Road to Housing Act aims to expand the housing supply by streamlining federal environmental reviews, easing regulations on factory-built housing, and incentivizing local governments to revise planning laws to accommodate more housing.

Trump seems to regard the SAVE Act as critical to resolving Republican concerns about elections.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged Republicans to smarten up, warning that failure to do so might lead to a loss of power.

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