Lawmakers Deliver Rare Bipartisan Win on Housing — A Core Trump Priority
In an era defined by partisan gridlock, Congress has delivered an outcome that few Americans have come to expect: overwhelming bipartisan agreement on a major legislative initiative — one that aligns squarely with a central promise of President Donald J. Trump’s campaign.
While Washington remains deeply fractured on most issues, housing affordability has emerged as a rare point of consensus. On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping bipartisan housing package aimed at expanding access to affordable homes, approving the measure by a striking 390–9 vote.
According to Fox News, the legislation — formally titled the Housing for the 21st Century Act — is designed to increase housing supply nationwide and ease affordability pressures that have intensified following years of inflation and regulatory stagnation.
The bill combines several market-oriented reforms intended to accelerate construction while reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks. Among its provisions are incentives for increased multifamily housing, greater flexibility for building taller structures on smaller lots, and encouragement for state and local governments to streamline permitting processes that routinely delay or derail new housing projects.
A key component of the legislation targets federal red tape. The bill establishes a new pilot program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development that would issue grants to develop standardized “pattern books” of pre-approved housing designs. These designs would already comply with local building codes, allowing developers and municipalities to bypass lengthy approval cycles.
Supporters argue this approach could eliminate months — or even years — of delays that drive up costs and suppress supply. By creating predictable, code-compliant templates, the bill seeks to move projects from planning to construction with far greater efficiency.
The legislation also focuses on expanding what lawmakers refer to as “missing middle” housing — duplexes, townhomes, and small apartment buildings that bridge the gap between single-family homes and large-scale apartment complexes. This segment has been largely overlooked for decades, despite its critical role in maintaining affordability for working families.
Taken together, the measures are aimed at helping first-time homebuyers and lower-income Americans access attainable housing while supporting small and mid-sized developers rather than prioritizing luxury developments. Lawmakers backing the bill argue this balanced approach is essential for relieving pressure in overheated housing markets without relying solely on massive, long-term construction projects.
The breadth of support for the bill underscores its bipartisan nature. Two of its most prominent advocates came from opposite ends of the political spectrum: Republican Rep. French Hill of Arkansas and Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters of California, both members of the House Financial Services Committee.
Waters — a longtime and vocal critic of President Trump — played a notable role in advancing legislation that directly complements one of Trump’s signature economic objectives. After years of inflation and housing market distortion under the Biden administration, restoring affordability has been central to Trump’s pledge to rebuild the American economy, a promise that helped propel him back to the White House in 2024.
As a former real estate developer, President Trump has consistently emphasized the importance of supply-side solutions and reducing government barriers to homeownership. That approach was reinforced earlier this year when he signed an executive order addressing housing affordability.
“President Trump is working to make homeownership affordable again after years of Wall Street crowding out first-time buyers and young families,” the accompanying fact sheet states.
With Congress now advancing legislation that mirrors those priorities, housing affordability may prove to be one of the few areas where political realities are finally aligning with the needs of everyday Americans.