Here is a summary of the recent housing-related actions taken by the Trump administration or Congressional Republicans since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. The lists below are in reverse order, with the most recent actions listed first.
CFPB
– Fired CFPB Director Rohit Chopra on February 1
– Senate banking chairman hints at potential CFPB changes coming soon on January 29
– Uncertainty looms as Rohit Chopra remains CFPB director for now on January 23
Tariffs
– Homebuilders seek tariff exemptions on building materials from Trump on January 31
– Trump imposes tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico on January 31
– Questions arise on whether President Trump is serious about tariffs on January 31
HUD
– Trump’s confusing federal funding memos leave HUD in limbo on January 29
– Memo mixup: Trump calls for freeze of 100 HUD programs, then denies it on January 28
– HUD inspector general caught in large-scale firings on January 27
– Opinion: Scott Turner is the right choice to address housing challenges in America on January 24
FHFA
– Mortgage Bankers Association supports FHFA nominee Bill Pulte on January 29
Federal employees/hiring freeze/funding freeze/regulatory freeze
– White House offer to federal employees raises concerns and opposition from unions on January 30
– Former Ginnie Mae head warns that federal hiring freeze could impact HMBS 2.0 rollout on January 28
– Trump’s order to end DEI initiatives will affect federal housing agencies on January 21
– Housing market faces uncertainty due to Trump’s regulatory freeze on January 21
– Trump enforces federal hiring freeze and return-to-office mandate on January 21
Executive orders
– Impact of Trump’s executive orders on homebuilders on January 21
– Local concerns may hinder Trump’s efforts to lower housing costs on January 21
– Trump issues executive order for emergency price relief on housing on January 20