President Donald Trump marked his return to the White House Monday by signing an executive order aimed at providing emergency price relief for housing. While the administration has framed this move as a win for the American worker, many housing advocates are skeptical about its long-term impact on affordability.
“I hereby order the heads of all executive departments and agencies to deliver emergency price relief, consistent with applicable law, to the American people and increase the prosperity of the American worker. This shall include pursuing appropriate actions to: lower the cost of housing and expand housing supply; eliminate unnecessary administrative expenses and rent-seeking practices that increase healthcare costs; eliminate counterproductive requirements that raise the costs of home appliances; create employment opportunities for American workers, including drawing discouraged workers into the labor force; and eliminate harmful, coercive ‘climate’ policies that increase the costs of food and fuel.”
On housing specifically, the order claims that “many Americans are unable to purchase homes due to historically high prices, in part due to regulatory requirements that alone account for 25 percent of the cost of constructing a new home according to recent analysis.”
The memo adds: “Unprecedented regulatory oppression from the Biden Administration is estimated to have imposed almost $50,000 in costs on the average American household, whereas my first-term agenda reduced regulatory costs by almost $11,000 per household. It is critical to restore purchasing power to the American family and improve our quality of life.”
A Focus on Deregulation
Trump’s order places significant emphasis on reducing regulatory barriers, reflecting his administration’s broader anti-regulation stance. During his inaugural address earlier that day, Trump declared: “From this moment on, it’s going to be America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.”
The president also unveiled his plans to reshape federal agencies, including creating a new Department on Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. According to the memo, Trump intends this department to “look at every government agency and regulatory body to see where we can make cuts.”
Specific to housing, Trump’s pick for HUD Secretary, Scott Turner, is a key player in carrying out this agenda. During his confirmation hearing, Turner said, “I will be looking very closely at the HUD budget to get rid of any inefficiencies.”
He added, “We need to focus on creating opportunities for Americans to achieve homeownership and address regulatory burdens that make housing unattainable for many families.”
Questions About Impact
The executive order’s focus on regulatory reform has raised concerns among housing advocates. They point to the memo’s explicit lack of attention to tenant protections or measures to address land speculation. Critics argue that these issues are at the heart of the housing crisis but are notably absent from Trump’s policy priorities.
Though the executive order may not be completely comprehensive in addressing the housing affordability crisis, it is crucial for Americans to have the topics of rent-seeking and housing rights at the top of policy priorities.
The Daily Renter 
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