The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the first major U.S. housing affordability legislation in approximately three decades, has officially enacted into law without the signature of President Donald Trump. Under constitutional rules, the bipartisan bill became law automatically at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 11 after the president declined to sign or veto the legislation within the ten-day congressional review period. The bill had previously passed both chambers of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan majorities, including an 85–5 vote in the Senate and a 358–32 vote in the House.

President Trump publicly stated his decision not to sign the bill was a protest against the Senate’s inability to pass the SAVE America Act, a voting reform measure requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for federal elections. Describing the housing legislation as of minor importance compared to broader economic factors like interest rates and election integrity, Trump urged Senate Republicans to terminate the filibuster to advance the voting bill. While the House had approved the voting reform measure, it stalled in the Senate due to the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a filibuster.

The president’s decision drew sharp criticism from congressional Democrats, who highlighted the pressing nature of the domestic housing crisis. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the president’s characterization of the housing issue, arguing that millions of Americans are struggling with high housing costs and accusing the administration of neglecting a critical bipartisan effort to expand affordable homeownership. Proponents of the legislation emphasized that immediate policy intervention is necessary to support families facing record-high real estate prices.

The newly enacted law features several measures designed to curb housing costs by increasing market supply, such as prohibiting large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, promoting modular housing, and streamlining local zoning and environmental reviews. These reforms come amid challenging market conditions, with recent data showing median U.S. home prices reaching a record high of nearly $409,000 and elevated mortgage rates compounding affordability challenges for prospective buyers. Industry experts have largely welcomed the act as a significant structural step toward stabilizing the housing market.