Sign up for alerts on breaking news and exclusive reporting from NPRDemocrats in Congress hailed it as the biggest housing bill in decades.Republicans called it a win for families across the country.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described it on X as "one of the most significant pieces of housing legislation in American history." And in June, both houses of Congress passed it with broad bipartisan support.President Trump called it "a big yawn" and refused to sign it on June 24, shortly after it passed.On Friday, the president again reiterated that he won't sign.In earlier Truth Social posts, Trump dismissed the bill — officially called the 21st Century Road to Housing Act — as "of minor importance" and canceled a June White House signing ceremony, stipulating that he would only sign if Congress passed a strict voter ID bill called the SAVE America Act.
That bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot.It has stalled in the Senate, where it doesn't have the 60 votes to pass."To me, compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn," Trump told reporters in June.Still, House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered the housing bill to the president on June 29, starting a 10-day clock for him to either sign or veto the bill.
That clock is set to expire tonight at 11:59 p.m.ET — without action from the president, the bill will become law automatically.On Friday morning, Trump 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."When reached for comment, the White House referred NPR to the president's post.The housing bill aims to make homeownership more affordable, primarily by encouraging homebuilding across the country.It's packed with more than 40 provisions, contributed by both Republicans and Democrats, on eve...