White House Says CDC Has Not Found Legal Authority for Eviction Ban
Posted on 08/02/2021
Facing heat from some fellow Democrats and the failure to pass it in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team prodded the White House to extend the federal eviction moratorium. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) early in the coronavirus pandemic imposed an eviction moratorium that banned landlords from removing people who were behind on their rent. In a June 2021 opinion from Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh saying Congress, not the U.S. president, would have to extend the moratorium if it were to continue.
The White House fired back disclosing that the CDC hasn’t found legal authority for the eviction ban.
In a statement from the White House, “To date, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and her team have been unable to find legal authority for a new, targeted eviction moratorium. Our team is redoubling efforts to identify all available legal authorities to provide necessary protections.
In the meantime, the President will continue to do everything in his power to help renters from eviction. The Administration has provided States and local governments with the flexibility to get funds out efficiently without burdensome documentation; to use funds to help those who are homeless or in need of new housing; and to use American Rescue Plan State and local funds to expand any effort to help those whose housing is at risk due to the pandemic.”
Link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/02/statement-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-on-eviction-prevention-efforts/