President Donald Trump said Friday he will not sign the biggest housing bill in decades, even as the measure heads toward becoming law at midnight without his signature.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was withholding his signature “in PROTEST” because the Senate has failed to pass the SAVE America Act, the voter-identification legislation he has repeatedly urged lawmakers to approve. He stopped short of issuing a veto, meaning the legislation will become law automatically under the Constitution if Congress remains in session and the president neither signs nor returns the bill within the required 10-day period.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed both chambers of Congress with broad bipartisan support in June and was formally delivered to the White House on June 29, starting the constitutional review period.

A Major Housing Overhaul

The legislation represents one of the most significant federal housing reforms in decades, aiming to increase the nation’s housing supply while improving affordability.

Among its major provisions, the law streamlines portions of the federal permitting process to accelerate residential construction, places new restrictions on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes, and creates incentives for developers to convert vacant commercial and abandoned properties into residential housing.

Supporters argue the package addresses one of the country’s most pressing economic challenges—a shortage of available housing that has driven home prices to record levels.

Housing Affordability Remains a Major Challenge

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median price of an existing U.S. home reached $440,660 in June, an increase of 1.8% from a year earlier.

Industry groups have long argued that lengthy permitting requirements, limited land availability and increasing construction costs have slowed new housing development, contributing to the nation’s housing shortage.

The legislation seeks to address those issues while also responding to concerns that large corporate investors have purchased significant numbers of single-family homes, reducing inventory available to first-time homebuyers.

Politics Overshadow the Policy

While the housing legislation received bipartisan support, Trump’s decision not to sign it reflects his continued focus on election-related legislation.

The president has repeatedly urged Congress to approve the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration and establish stricter voter-identification standards nationwide.

Trump has also encouraged Senate Republicans to reconsider the legislative filibuster in an effort to move the proposal forward.

House Speaker Mike Johnson previously indicated that Trump was unlikely to block the housing legislation, saying the president could either sign the measure or allow it to become law without his signature.

Industry Watches for Implementation

For builders, developers, lenders and local governments, the practical effect remains the same regardless of whether the president signs the legislation.

Attention now shifts toward implementation, with the housing industry closely watching how quickly the new permitting reforms, redevelopment incentives and investment restrictions translate into additional housing construction and improved affordability.

Whether the legislation meaningfully expands the nation’s housing supply will likely depend on how rapidly federal, state and local governments implement the new provisions over the coming months.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
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