Trump Links Housing Bill to Separate Voter Citizenship Requirement

President Donald Trump stated on June 24 that he would not sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act until Congress passes legislation requiring proof of citizenship for voters. The White House had previously indicated support for the housing measure, which Congress passed with bipartisan support during the week of June 22-28.

The bill consolidates multiple housing provisions negotiated over several months. It would reduce federal regulations, streamline environmental reviews, and accelerate housing construction while limiting corporate landlords' ability to purchase single-family homes.

Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, said the measure addresses a core need. “We need more homes built, and legislation that removes construction barriers is exactly what the market needs right now,” Fairweather stated. She added that homebuyers hoping for relief may have to wait longer.

Existing-home sales remained flat in 2025 at a 30-year low. Sales increased in May 2026 to their fastest pace since December 2025 but still hover near a 4-million annual rate, well below the historic norm of roughly 5.2 million units. Nationwide home prices have risen 54 percent since 2020.

In 2025 the median existing single-family home sales price reached nearly five times the median household income, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022 when mortgage rates began rising from pandemic-era lows.

The legislation received support from organizations representing homebuilders, apartment owners and housing advocates. It does not address shortages of construction labor, rising insurance costs or subdued wage growth relative to rents and home prices. The source material does not include statements from Trump specifying the content or timeline of the voter citizenship legislation.