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President Donald J. Trump Is Reforming the Housing Finance System to Help Americans Who Want to Buy a Home

Economy & Jobs

Issued on:

REFORMING THE HOUSING FINANCE SYSTEM: The United States housing finance system is in need of reform to help Americans who want to buy a home.

  • Today, the President Donald J. Trump is signing a Presidential memorandum initiating overdue reform of the housing finance system.
  • During the financial crisis, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac suffered significant losses and were bailed out by the Federal Government with billions of taxpayer dollars.
    • Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been in conservatorship since September 2008.
  • In the decade since the financial crisis, there has been no comprehensive reform of the housing finance system despite the need for it, leaving taxpayers exposed to future bailouts.
    • Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have grown in size and scope and face no competition from the private sector.
    • The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) housing programs are exposed to high levels of risk and rely on outdated business processes and systems.

PROMOTING COMPETITION AND PROTECTING TAXPAYERS: The Trump Administration will work to promote competition in the housing finance market and protect taxpayer dollars.

  • The President is directing relevant agencies to develop a reform plan for the housing finance system. These reforms will aim to:
    • End the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and improve regulatory oversight over them.
    • Promote competition in the housing finance market and create a system that encourages sustainable homeownership and protects taxpayers against bailouts.
  • The President is directing the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to craft administrative and legislative options for housing finance reform.
    • Treasury will prepare a reform plan for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
    • HUD will prepare a reform plan for the housing finance agencies it oversees.
  • The Presidential memorandum calls for reform plans to be submitted to the President for approval as soon as practicable.
  • Critically, the Administration wants to work with Congress to achieve comprehensive reform that improves our housing finance system.

HELPING PEOPLE ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM: These reforms will help more Americans fulfill their goal of buying a home.

  • President Trump is working to improve Americans’ access to sustainable home mortgages.
  • The Presidential memorandum aims to preserve the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
  • The Administration is committed to enabling Americans to access Federal housing programs that help finance the purchase of their first home.
  • Sustainable homeownership is the benchmark of success for comprehensive reforms to Government housing programs.