Donald Trump said he will not move forward until Congress passes the SAVE American Act
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday canceled the signing of a bipartisan housing bill aimed at accelerating the construction of affordable homes, saying he would not move forward until Congress approved the Save America Act, which he called a national emergency.
The decision halted what would have been a rare legislative victory supported by both Republicans and Democrats, although the measure had already won approval in both chambers of Congress by wide margins.“Today’s housing news conference and signing has been canceled until such time as we pass the much-needed Save America Act, which I consider a national emergency,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Supporters say the measures could help ease the nationwide affordable housing shortage, which industry groups estimate is in the millions.
The legislation was scheduled to be signed after receiving broad bipartisan support in Washington. The House of Representatives approved the bill on Tuesday by a vote of 358 to 32, after it passed the Senate on Monday by a vote of 85 to 5. Such levels of cross-party support are becoming increasingly uncommon in a deeply polarized Congress.The bill seeks to address the housing affordability crisis in the United States by removing some regulatory hurdles to residential development.
Its key provisions include waiving or expediting environmental reviews for housing projects, and limiting the number of existing single-family residences that major Wall Street investors can own.Supporters say the measures could help ease the nationwide affordable housing shortage, which industry groups estimate is in the millions.The discussion comes at a time when housing costs remain a major concern for American voters.
Rising prices, rising mortgage rates and ongoing supply chain disruptions have made homeownership increasingly difficult for many families. Inflation, which rose significantly during Trump’s second term, continues to rank first among overall economic concerns.There have also been signs of renewed interest in home ownership. For the first time since 2023, more Americans said they would rather buy a home than rent or move in with family members, a poll released Tuesday showed.Trump’s decision leaves the future of housing legislation uncertain, despite strong bipartisan support and mounting pressure to address affordability challenges across the country.