Trump Refuses to Sign Housing Bill With Temporary CBDC Ban

A temporary federal ban on a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC) is on track to take effect after Congress approved the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, legislation that President Donald Trump says he will not sign but has not formally vetoed.

Summary

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes a provision barring the Federal Reserve from issuing a U.S. central bank digital currency through the end of 2030.
President Donald Trump said he will not sign the bill, but has not announced a formal veto.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the legislation is expected to become law without the president’s signature if no veto is issued before the review period expires.
The provision reflects growing congressional support for limiting a federally issued digital dollar while leaving future policy open after 2030.

The measure, which passed the House by 358-32 and the Senate by 85-5, is primarily a housing reform package. However, it also contains one of the most consequential digital asset provisions approved by Congress to date.

The Bill Restricts a U.S. CBDC Through 2030

The legislation prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing or creating a central bank digital currency, or any digital asset deemed substantially similar to one, until Dec. 31, 2030.

The language is broader than a conventional CBDC prohibition, seeking to prevent the creation of functionally equivalent digital payment instruments under a different legal or technical framework.

Unlike previous standalone anti-CBDC proposals that failed to advance, this restriction was attached to a bipartisan bill that cleared both chambers of Congress with wide support.

Trump’s Position Does Not Automatically Stop the Bill

Trump announced on Truth Social that he would not sign the housing legislation, citing frustration that the Senate has not passed the SAVE America Act, an election bill backed by the administration.

However, he has not announced a formal veto.

Under Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, if a president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days (excluding Sundays) while Congress remains in session, the legislation becomes law without the president’s signature.

Unless Trump returns the bill with a veto before that constitutional deadline, the housing package – including its CBDC provision – is expected to take effect without his formal approval.

How the Measure Reshapes the Digital Dollar Debate

The restriction does not affect existing cryptocurrencies or privately issued stablecoins. Instead, it temporarily limits the Federal Reserve’s ability to launch a government-issued digital dollar.

Supporters argue the measure protects financial privacy and reduces the risk of expanded government oversight of digital payments. Critics, however, contend it could delay future innovation in public-sector payment infrastructure if other major economies continue developing central bank digital currencies.

The provision also aligns with the Trump administration’s broader stance on digital assets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously stated that a U.S. CBDC is “off the table,” while policymakers have increasingly emphasized private-sector solutions such as regulated stablecoins.

A Temporary Policy, Not a Permanent Ban

This outcome signals a potential shift in how Congress handles high-stakes digital asset policy. By embedding the CBDC restriction within a massive, must-pass housing reform package, lawmakers have effectively utilized a “legislative shield.” This strategy forces the administration to weigh the political costs of a veto against the popular mandate of the underlying housing provisions.

The CBDC restriction expires at the end of 2030, meaning Congress has not permanently closed the door on a digital dollar.

Instead, lawmakers have established a temporary framework that postpones any Federal Reserve CBDC while allowing future administrations and Congress to revisit the issue.

For the cryptocurrency industry, the measure reinforces the current U.S. policy direction: encouraging private, regulated digital payment infrastructure while delaying the introduction of a federally issued digital currency.

The information presented in this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or trading advice. Coinspress.com does not promote or advocate for any particular investment strategy, asset, or cryptocurrency project. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and unpredictable – always perform your own research and seek guidance from a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Author

Kosta Gushterov

Reporter at CoinsPress

Kosta has reported on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain infrastructure since 2020, bringing over six years of hands-on experience in the crypto industry built through daily tracking of markets, trends, and emerging blockchain developments. Specializing in Bitcoin on-chain analysis, institutional ETF flows, and digital asset price action, his work has been cited by other news agencies and consistently covers market developments with a focus on data-driven reporting across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Over the years, Kosta has contributed to multiple crypto media outlets in different regions, authoring over 6,000 articles across the sector. His reporting spans cryptocurrency markets and the broader fintech industry, tracking not only price action but also the technological and regulatory forces shaping the ecosystem. To support his analysis, Kosta actively leverages on-chain data and metrics from leading platforms such as Santiment, Glassnode, and CryptoQuant, enabling deeper, evidence-based market insights. He believes in the power of transparency and the data that underpins the blockchain ecosystem. His academic background in Marketing Management from Denmark further complements his analytical approach, adding a strong understanding of communication strategy and content positioning to his work.