Housing Bill Becomes Law at Midnight — Without Trump's Signature

The president is withholding his signature to pressure Congress on voter ID legislation, but the housing bill passes into law automatically under constitutional rules.

A major federal housing bill is set to become law at midnight Thursday without President Trump's signature.
Trump says he will not sign the bill until Congress passes his sweeping voter ID legislation.
Under the Constitution, a bill becomes law automatically if the president neither signs nor vetoes it within ten days while Congress is in session.
The housing legislation cleared both chambers of Congress with enough votes to advance but not enough to override a veto.
Congressional leaders have not indicated any agreement is imminent on the voter ID bill Trump is demanding.

A major federal housing bill becomes law at midnight Thursday without President Trump's signature, after Trump said he would withhold his pen until Congress first passes his sweeping voter ID legislation.

The White House confirmed the president will not sign the bill. Under the Constitution, legislation sent to the president automatically becomes law after ten days — excluding Sundays — if he neither signs nor vetoes it and Congress remains in session.

Trump framed his refusal as a negotiating move, telling reporters the housing bill is “fine” but that Congress must act on voter ID first. No vote on voter ID legislation is currently scheduled in either chamber.

The housing bill, which congressional sources told the Wail would expand federal rental assistance and fund new affordable-unit construction, passed with bipartisan margins but short of the two-thirds threshold required to override a veto.

The automatic enactment sidesteps Trump's leverage entirely. The president cannot block the bill without issuing a formal veto, which he has not done.

Congressional leaders are expected to address the voter ID demand when both chambers return from recess next week.