Bessent: Trump administration weighs declaring national housing emergency
By lauraharris // 2025-09-04
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  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump administration may declare a national housing emergency this fall to address rising housing costs and supply shortages.
  • While awaiting potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, the administration is exploring more aggressive federal actions, including standardizing zoning laws, reducing closing costs and exempting select construction materials from tariffs.
  • Bessent emphasized that improving housing affordability is central to Trump's economic agenda and may become a major issue in the 2026 midterm elections.
  • Elevated interest rates have led to high mortgage costs, suppressed home sales, delayed downsizing by older homeowners and increased financial strain on younger Americans.
  • In addition to emergency powers, the administration is pursuing regulatory changes to speed up construction by simplifying permitting and encouraging national building code standards.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has revealed that the Trump administration is considering declaring a national housing emergency this fall, amid rising concerns over housing affordability and supply shortages across the country. Speaking during a Labor Day interview and breakfast with the Washington Examiner at McLean Family Restaurant on Sept. 1, Bessent suggested that while Federal Reserve rate cuts may help ease post-pandemic housing price pressures, more aggressive executive action may be necessary. Although he declined to provide a list of specific policy moves under consideration, Bessent pointed to several areas the administration is actively studying, including standardizing local building and zoning codes, lowering closing costs and even offering tariff exemptions on select construction materials. (Related: Micro-housing surges in U.S. cities as housing crisis deepens.) "We may declare a national housing emergency in the fall," Bessent said, adding that the administration wants to put affordability front and center in its economic agenda. "We're trying to figure out what we can do, and we don't want to step into the business of states, counties and municipal governments. I think everything is on the table." Moreover, Bessent said that the move could be part of a broader push to make housing a central issue in the 2026 midterm elections. Bessent also said that such a declaration would give the administration broader powers to coordinate resources and fast-track policy changes aimed at increasing housing supply and reducing costs.

Trump administration eyes regulatory reforms to combat housing crisis

The housing market has struggled under the weight of the Federal Reserve's prolonged tight monetary policy. Brighteon.AI's Enoch suggests that this has led to a decline in investor activity and a trend of older Americans delaying downsizing, resulting in a record number of young adults living with their parents or stuck in long-term rental situations. The combination of rising home prices and stagnant real wages is creating significant financial strain and raising concerns about the market's sustainability. Elevated interest rates have led to higher mortgage costs, discouraging homeowners with low-rate loans from selling and locking many first-time buyers out of the market. In a separate interview with Reuters, Bessent revealed that rents are beginning to decline, a key development for millions of Americans who rent rather than own their homes. He added that once interest rates start to fall, real estate activity is likely to pick up, as homeowners currently locked into low-rate mortgages may feel more comfortable listing their properties. Meanwhile, construction has lagged far behind demand, exacerbating shortages in major metropolitan areas. Aside from potential emergency measures, Bessent also revealed that the administration is exploring regulatory reforms to boost housing supply. Bessent said efforts are underway to streamline permitting processes and promote building standardization, both seen as key obstacles to accelerating construction. Addressing affordability will be a central priority, he emphasized, pointing to Trump's broader efforts to lower everyday costs for Americans. Visit Collapse.news to read more stories related to America's collapsing housing market. Watch this episode of "Flyover Conservatives" as host Colton Whited interviews financial expert Kirk Elliot about the exploding mortgage rates in the United States.
This video is from the Flyover Conservatives channel on Brighteon.com.

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Mortgage rates surge to 20-year high, causing massive drop in home sales. BAD NEWS for home buyers: U.S. house mortgage rates SKYROCKET to HIGHEST level in two decades. Interest rate for 30-year fixed mortgage rises to 8.45% – the highest it has been since 2000. The cost of a monthly mortgage payment for a typical U.S. home has NEARLY DOUBLED in just four years. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com WashingtonExaminer.com Brighteon.AI Reuters.com Brighteon.com
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