Senator Elizabeth Warren blasted President Trump on June 24 for canceling the planned signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, accusing him of abandoning bipartisan legislation aimed at lowering housing costs. Trump abruptly called off the signing ceremony just hours before it was scheduled, saying he would not sign the bill until Congress passed his SAVE America Act first.
“Congress overwhelmingly passed a housing bill to bring down costs. But Trump just threw a tantrum,” Warren said in a statement on social media. “He’s refusing to sign bipartisan legislation to make housing more affordable in a bizarre effort to try to rig the elections.”
The housing bill passed the Senate 85-5 on Monday and cleared the House 358-32 on Tuesday, giving both chambers veto-proof majorities. Warren co-sponsored the legislation alongside Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Representatives French Hill and Maxine Waters. The measure represents the first major housing affordability bill in more than 30 years, according to multiple sources.
During a news conference on Capitol Hill, Warren highlighted Trump’s earlier campaign promises about lowering costs. “Keep in mind, Donald Trump promised, on day one, on day one, that he would lower costs for American families. Well, we’re on day 500-and-gag-me-now — and where are the costs?” she said. “The cost of food is up. The cost of utilities is up. The cost of gasoline is up. The cost of healthcare is through the roof. The cost of housing is up.”
What the Housing Bill Would Do
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes comprehensive provisions designed to boost housing supply and reduce costs. The legislation would restrict large institutional investors from buying new single-family homes, with exemptions for build-to-rent properties. It also streamlines environmental review requirements for housing development and includes provisions to encourage renovation of aging homes and incentivize communities to build more housing.
The bill incorporates provisions from over 60 pieces of legislation introduced in both chambers, with 36 of those bills receiving bipartisan sponsorship. It addresses manufactured housing, expands access to small-dollar mortgages, and reforms federal housing programs including the HOME Investment Partnerships program and USDA Rural Housing Service programs.
Trump’s Ultimatum and the SAVE Act
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he was canceling the signing “until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency.” The SAVE America Act is a voting restrictions bill that would impose new requirements for voter identification and limit mail-in ballots. Senate Republican leaders have said they lack the votes to pass it.
Trump also attacked the housing bill itself, describing it as “of minor importance” and saying it “pales in comparison” to his voting legislation. He called the housing measure a bill that Warren had backed, signaling his willingness to weaponize bipartisan legislation as leverage for his preferred policy priorities.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s decision, saying the president would use a constitutionally mandated 10-day window before a bill automatically becomes law to maintain leverage. “He has a window of time before he has to sign a bill, and he’s going to use a little bit more of that window of time, and we’re going to go through this together,” Johnson said.
Democrats and some Republicans had hoped to use the housing bill as a major accomplishment to tout to voters ahead of November’s midterm elections. The White House press secretary had praised the bill as recently as Tuesday, hours before Trump’s announcement.
Sources
- NJ.com — Warren’s statement calling Trump’s cancellation a “tantrum” and describing his refusal to sign bipartisan housing legislation.
- MassLive — Warren’s full news conference remarks on housing costs and Trump’s campaign promises, plus details on bill provisions restricting institutional investors.
- Bipartisan Policy Center — Comprehensive section-by-section summary of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act’s final version and its 60+ provisions.
- U.S. Senate — Official roll call vote confirming 85-5 passage in the Senate.
- PBS NewsHour — Reporting on Trump’s cancellation of the signing and the bill’s veto-proof majorities in both chambers.
- Reuters — Confirmation of the House’s 358-32 passage and the bill’s aims to expand housing supply and lower costs.
