The Brief

The Trump administration is thinking about declaring a housing emergency amid stubbornly high costs and limited supply.

Officials are considering tariff exemptions for some construction materials and lowering closing costs.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday said that the Trump administration is mulling the declaration of a national housing emergency in an effort to address high housing prices and limited inventory.

Elevated mortgage rates have added to a slump in the U.S. housing market that began in early 2022, when rates began climbing from pandemic lows.

What they're saying:

"We're trying to figure out what we can do, and we don't want to step into the business of states, counties and municipal governments," Bessent said. "I think everything is on the table."

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