President Donald Trump on Monday publicly pressed the House to advance a major housing affordability package that has stalled in the lower chamber, highlighting deepening divisions within his own party over the legislation's most contested provisions.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act—designed to lower housing costs through new construction incentives, a program to convert abandoned buildings into housing, and grants for modernizing existing homes—sailed through the Senate in March with an 89-10 vote. But the bill has hit a wall in the House, where both conservative Republicans and some Democrats have raised objections to specific elements.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, endorsed the Senate-passed version and credited Senators Bernie Moreno and Tim Scott for their work. “I am asking Congress to pass that Bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which would ensure that homes are for people, not Corporations,” he wrote.
Conservative Objections: CBDC and Investor Mandates
Hardline House Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), have voiced strong opposition to a provision that temporarily bans the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) until 2030. Luna argued in March that “CBDC’s are bad for everyone,” warning that a government-controlled digital currency could enable authorities to restrict citizens' access to their own finances.
Another flashpoint is the requirement that large institutional investors in build-to-rent single-family homes must sell those properties within seven years. Rep. Richard McCormick (R-Ga.) called the mandate unconstitutional, telling The Hill, “When is it constitutional for us as a government to tell a business when they take the risk, they go out, they build something that we’re going to take away your right to do with it, whatever you are legally able to do with it?”
Negotiations Underway
According to Punchbowl News, House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) have been negotiating potential changes to the bill but have yet to reach a compromise. The White House has thrown its full support behind the Senate package, making it a centerpiece of the administration’s broader affordability push ahead of the November midterms.
As GOP lawmakers push housing and gas tax relief amid inflation, Trump has framed homeownership as a core issue. During his State of the Union address in February, he declared that home ownership was “under attack” and called on Congress to codify an executive order barring Wall Street investors from buying up thousands of single-family homes.
In January, Trump directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower rates. A subsequent March order sought to remove regulatory barriers to construction. However, the administration faces mounting economic pressure as the conflict with Iran stokes voter anxiety over cost-of-living issues and rising fuel prices.
Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) thanked Trump for his support, writing on X that passing the bill would “ensure that 2026 is truly the year of affordability.” Whether the House can overcome internal GOP resistance and deliver that outcome remains uncertain.
