President Donald Trump says he will not sign a bipartisan housing bill, framing the decision as a protest over Congress failing to approve a separate voter-ID measure he has prioritized. Multiple outlets report that Trump is asking lawmakers to instead focus on the SAVE America Act, a voter-ID bill that he has pushed Senate Republicans to pass.
While Trump’s refusal to sign is presented as political leverage, the reporting also indicates the housing legislation could still become law without his signature. The New York Times notes that Trump did not characterize the action as a veto, which would typically require a different step and process. Bloomberg similarly reports that Trump will not sign the housing bill but will allow it to proceed as law. TIME.com describes the housing package as set to become law despite Trump’s stated refusal.
The dispute is also described as part of a broader rift between Trump and Senate Republicans, with lawmakers declining to advance the voter-ID bill as he urges.
