Senate Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill, But Digital Currency Provision Divides GOP

Nine Republican senators voted against the bill over a provision related to the Federal Reserve's ability to issue a central bank digital currency.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:03am

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The Senate voted 89-10 to pass the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a sweeping housing package that aligns with President Trump's agenda on cutting regulatory barriers and blocking institutional investors from buying up single-family homes. However, nine Republican senators voted against the bill due to a provision that would temporarily restrain the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency, which the senators view as a threat to financial freedom and civil liberties.

Why it matters

The bipartisan nature of the housing bill, which incorporates many provisions from the House version, represents an unusual compromise between Democrats and Republicans. However, the digital currency provision has emerged as a sticking point, with conservative senators pushing for a permanent ban rather than the temporary moratorium included in the Senate bill.

The details

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to expand housing supply, lower costs, and generate no new spending, aligning with the Trump administration's policies. The bill also incorporates the vast majority of what the House already passed in February. The digital currency provision, which would lift a ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency in 2030, is the primary reason for the nine Republican senators' opposition, as they view it as a threat to financial freedom.

  • The Senate voted 89-10 to pass the bill on Wednesday, March 14, 2026.
  • The House can now either amend the bill and send it back to the Senate, accept the Senate version outright, or enter a formal conference negotiation to reconcile the two versions.

The players

President Trump

The housing bill aligns with the Trump administration's agenda on cutting regulatory barriers and blocking institutional investors from buying up single-family homes.

Sen. Tim Scott

The Republican senator from South Carolina is the top Republican championing the legislation.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

The Democratic senator from Massachusetts is leading the legislation and has described it as a "compromise that receives support from both the overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans."

Sen. Raphael Warnock

The Democratic senator from Georgia urged colleagues to "center the people rather than their own petty and partisan differences."

Nine Republican Senators

Sens. Rick Scott, Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, Ted Budd, Thom Tillis, Todd Young, Tommy Tuberville, and Ted Cruz voted against the bill due to the digital currency provision.

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What they’re saying

“Not only is this bill about cutting regulatory red tape, lowering costs, and expanding housing supply while generating no new spending, but it's about making sure people like the single mom who raised me in North Charleston, South Carolina, have even greater access to economic opportunity and the American dream of homeownership.”

— Sen. Tim Scott, Republican Senator from South Carolina

“When President Trump and Elizabeth Warren and the Senate majority Republicans can all come to the same place on a housing bill, what it says is, you put partisan politics aside.”

— Sen. Tim Scott, Republican Senator from South Carolina

“This bill is a compromise that receives support from both the overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans.”

— Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democratic Senator from Massachusetts

“We've taken 20 of the 25 [House] provisions and embedded them in our 21st Century ROAD to Housing. Our bill is fantastic.”

— Sen. Tim Scott, Republican Senator from South Carolina

“We must center the people rather than our own petty and partisan differences.”

— Sen. Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senator from Georgia

What’s next

The House can now either amend the bill and send it back to the Senate, accept the Senate version outright, or enter a formal conference negotiation to reconcile the two versions. The digital currency provision will likely be the central battleground in this process, with House Republicans potentially pushing for a permanent ban on the Federal Reserve's ability to issue a central bank digital currency.

The takeaway

The bipartisan nature of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which incorporates many provisions from the House version and aligns with the Trump administration's policies, represents an unusual compromise between Democrats and Republicans. However, the digital currency provision has emerged as a sticking point, with conservative senators pushing for a permanent ban rather than the temporary moratorium included in the Senate bill. The outcome of this debate will shape the final version of the legislation.