WASHINGTON (Reuters) – United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration was rescinding a regulation aimed at combating discriminatory housing practices and segregation, in his latest attempt to increase his support in the suburbs while seeking reelection.
The rule, the Affirmatively Fair Housing Promotion Mandate, was established under the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama in 2015. It would have required communities receiving housing subsidies and aid to assess racial segregation in housing and offer plans to correct it.
“I am pleased to inform all people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that low-income housing construction in their neighborhood will no longer be bothered or financially hurt … Home prices will rise based on market and crime will go down I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH rule. Enjoy! “Trump wrote in a series of tweets.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development said last week that it would end the rule, calling it “unfeasible and, ultimately, a waste of time for localities to comply.”
Critics criticized the move.
“President Trump is actively working to disembowel fair housing laws and legalize housing discrimination,” wrote US Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer in a tweet. “We will fight this.”
California said last week that it will continue to require local agencies to make sure they promote fair housing.
Trump’s move comes as support for the president has faltered in the suburbs, which played a key role in the Republican’s 2016 electoral victory, but have since soured on him.
“Let’s be clear: The president is using racist scaremongering to say he is happy to dismantle civil rights in search of a political advantage,” wrote US Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren on Twitter.
Report by Makini Brice; Scott Malone and Jonathan Oatis Edition
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