President Donald Trump said On Friday, he will refuse to sign a bipartisan housing bill that cleared Congress by a veto-proof margin, escalating a standoff over an unrelated ballot measure and testing the limits of a president’s power to block legislation that lawmakers have already passed.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would withhold his signature “in PROTEST” against the Senate’s failure to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act SAVE America Actwhich would require proof of citizenship to register and a photo ID to vote in federal elections. The House passed the measure in February, but it has stalled in the Senate, where Republicans lack the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
The housing measure The Path to 21st Century Housing Actpassed the House of Representatives 358-32 last month after that Discharge of the Senate. It would ban large institutional investors from buying single-family homes and loosen building codes to expand supply amid a nationwide affordability crisis; have medium property prices crowned $400,000.
Trump’s refusal is unlikely to have any practical impact. Under Article 1, Section 7 According to the U.S. Constitution, a bill becomes law without a president’s signature if he fails to take action within 10 days, excluding Sundays, while Congress is in session. Because the legislature held Pro forma meetings The housing bill will not be officially postponed, but will become law regardless of Trump’s stance.
Trump also renewed his demand that Senate Majority Leader John Thune abolish the filibuster to enforce the voting law, warning that any Republican who blocks it will face political consequences. Thune has rejectedsaid the voices weren’t there.
Critics of the bill say the requirement for proof of citizenship could lead to disenfranchisement Millions of eligible voters who do not have quick access to documents such as passports or birth certificates. As opposed to many countriesThere is no national ID card in the United States, and no level of government automatically issues a photo ID to citizens. As a result, Millions of those eligible to vote have neither an official photo ID nor valid proof of citizenship. Both are required Opponents arguewould erect a barrier at the ballot box for people who are fully eligible to vote.
