Biden administration announces new temporary eviction moratorium

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a new two-month federal moratorium on evictions to replace the broader one that expired over the weekend.

The new moratorium would take effect in areas where COVID-19 has been on the rise and last through September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Without a federal moratorium in place, millions of Americans who fell behind on their rent during the pandemic faced eviction, depending on the patchwork of state policies. Biden previously said he did not have legal authority to renew the moratorium, and asked Congress to act. He said Monday he was still unsure if a new ban would pass constitutional muster, but added that it would at least help Americans temporarily.

“By the time it gets litigated, it will probably give some additional time,” Biden said.

The Supreme Court narrowly rejected an attempt to end the previous eviction moratorium in June, but did not rule on whether the federal ban was constitutional.

Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who joined liberal justices and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. to uphold the moratorium, made clear he would block any additional extensions unless there was “clear and specific congressional authorization.”

Progressive Democrats had been lambasting the White House for not extending the moratorium.

A small group of House lawmakers led by Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., has slept on the outdoor steps to the House chamber for five days in an effort to draw attention to the issue.

“This is an enormous victory,” Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said. “The president clearly understands that we need to keep people in their homes.”

States have failed to get most of the $46.5 billion that Congress provided in the Emergency Rental Assistance program in January and March to those who need it.