Why It Matters
Maryland faces a shortage of nearly 100,000 housing units, and a bipartisan federal bill that cleared both chambers of Congress this week now sits in limbo after President Trump withdrew from a planned signing ceremony. The standoff has drawn a rare joint response from Maryland’s congressional delegation, including at least one Republican lawmaker.
What Happened
The housing bill passed the Senate on Monday and the House on Tuesday, moving quickly through Congress with bipartisan support. But Trump canceled the signing ceremony on Wednesday, making clear he would not sign the measure until Congress also passed his SAVE AMERICA ACT.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen held a Capitol press conference on Thursday, June 25, joined by several Democratic House members — including Reps. April McClain Delaney, Johnny Olszewski, Kweisi Mfume, Sarah Elfreth, and Steny Hoyer. Republican Rep. Andy Harris was present but did not address the gathering.
That same afternoon, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore met separately with the state’s congressional delegation. Moore has already proposed funding for housing initiatives as part of his fiscal year 2027 budget.
A separate complication emerged around the bill’s physical transmission to the White House. House Speaker Mike Johnson had not yet sent the enrolled bill to the president before Thursday’s White House meeting. After that meeting, Johnson indicated he would do so, a necessary procedural step before Trump’s 10-day window to sign or veto the legislation can begin. Under the Constitution, if the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, it becomes law automatically.
By the Numbers
- ~100,000 — estimated housing unit shortage in Maryland
- 2 days — span between Senate passage (Monday) and House passage (Tuesday)
- 1 day — gap between House passage and Trump’s cancellation of the signing ceremony
- 10 days — constitutional window for presidential action once an enrolled bill is transmitted
What’s Being Said
Van Hollen argued both chambers had fulfilled their legislative responsibility and called on leadership to move without delay. “Congress had an opportunity, and still has an opportunity, to do its part,” he said. He also directed pressure at Johnson specifically: “The speaker of the House needs to release this bill that has been passed by his body and by the United States Senate, and we need to do it now.”
The delegation’s public pressure reflects frustration with the bill being used as leverage in a broader legislative negotiation. Trump’s demand that Congress pass the SAVE AMERICA ACT first effectively ties a housing measure with bipartisan backing to a separate and more contentious priority.
Zoom Out
The housing affordability crisis extends well beyond Maryland. Nationwide, economists estimate the United States faces a shortage of several million housing units, driven by constrained construction, rising material costs, and restrictive local zoning. Federal legislative action on housing has been rare in recent years, which is part of why this bill’s bipartisan passage drew attention. States from California to Ohio have been grappling with their own supply shortfalls and affordability pressures, with Ohio lawmakers also leaving housing-adjacent housing legislation unresolved as the legislative calendar winds down.
Presidential refusals to sign bipartisan legislation as leverage for separate legislative priorities are uncommon but not without precedent. The tactic creates political pressure on congressional leaders from both parties, particularly when the stalled bill has broad public support.
What’s Next
With Johnson now indicating he will transmit the enrolled bill to the White House, Trump’s 10-day clock can begin. The president retains the options of signing, vetoing, or allowing the bill to become law without his signature. If Trump issues a veto, Congress would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override it. Lawmakers and the Maryland governor are expected to continue pressing the administration publicly as the timeline tightens.