The Senate approved a comprehensive housing bill aimed at increasing homebuilding and improving affordability, but the legislation stalled after President Donald Trump announced he would not sign it. The bill, which passed the Senate on Wednesday with an 85-5 vote, combines over 50 provisions designed to streamline federal environmental reviews, lift restrictions on manufactured housing, and link federal funding to local housing production.

Despite broad bipartisan support in the upper chamber, including backing from many Republicans, a small group led by Senators Mike Lee (R., Utah), Rick Scott (R., Fla.), and Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) voted against the bill. Scott had invited Trump to a lunch meeting on Wednesday, where the housing measure was presumably discussed.

Trump communicated his decision to withhold his signature in a social media post, coinciding with a news conference held by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.), who praised the bill as “great policy” and expressed confidence that the president would sign it eventually. Johnson emphasized the importance of the legislation in addressing the housing crisis.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), a key advocate for the bill, criticized the president for his refusal to support the measure, stating that the legislation is “about doing good things,” and that Trump’s rejection signals a lack of concern.

The housing bill arrives amid sobering data showing a decline in new home sales. According to a joint report released on Wednesday by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, sales of new single-family homes dropped to an annual rate of 580,000 in May, down from 626,000 in April. This figure fell short of economists’ expectations, which had forecast 632,000 sales for the month.

The inventory of new houses available for sale modestly increased to 496,000 units in May, compared with 485,000 in April. Meanwhile, the median sales price for new homes rose 2% to $424,900 in May, reflecting ongoing affordability challenges in the housing market.

The stalled bill’s provisions aimed to facilitate construction and alleviate housing shortages come at a critical time, as rising prices and limited supply continue to strain potential buyers nationwide. The impasse highlights political divisions on how to address the country’s housing needs and the balancing of regulatory reforms with local autonomy in housing policy.