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ederal housing programs will restart after the House approved a funding bill that ended the longest U.S. shutdown. The Senate passed the measure 60‑40 on Monday, and President Trump signed it into law. “This agreement restores critical housing programs and is welcome news for Americans whose home purchases and insurance renewals have been delayed,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR’s chief advocacy officer. She noted that FHA, VA, USDA loans and new flood‑insurance policies were stalled, harming local economies, and warned of a six‑week backlog that could cause further delays.
The deal finances the federal government, including housing programs, and extends the National Flood Insurance Program’s authority through January 30, 2026. It also funds three spending bills covering agriculture, military construction and legislative agencies for the full fiscal year through September 30, 2026, supporting USDA and VA loan programs. Federal workers furloughed during the shutdown receive back pay. Congress must pass additional appropriations for the rest of the government by the January deadline.
NAR’s advocacy mobilized nationwide during the shutdown, urging Congress to reopen the government for the housing market and economy. Real estate accounts for nearly 20 % of U.S. GDP, so each day of the shutdown created negative ripple effects: stalled transactions, delayed closings, and halted federal housing programs. Before the shutdown, NAR issued a Call for Action, urging its political coordinators to contact members of Congress about the NFIP’s importance. Within 48 hours, 75 % of Congress had been reached, and nearly all members were contacted shortly thereafter. In October, NAR launched a Call for Information, gathering over 600 firsthand reports of stalled deals, stranded buyers, and families in limbo. More than 40 state and local REALTOR® associations sent letters to their members of Congress, demanding an immediate reopening to protect housing markets and restore consumer confidence.
The NAR lobby team contacted all 535 members of Congress, sharing letters, economic impact data, and firsthand accounts illustrating how the shutdown affected home sales, closings, and insurance renewals. In recent weeks, the Washington team held over 80 high‑level meetings with congressional leaders and key committee chairs, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Republican Leader John Thune, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren. The team maintained close coordination with senior staff from House and Senate leadership offices and committees overseeing housing and financial services.
Beyond Capitol Hill, NAR’s advocacy extended to the executive branch. The team met with top administration officials and agency heads—VA Secretary Doug Collins, HUD, FHA, FHFA, Treasury, and the Executive Office of the President—directly engaging the president to keep housing at the forefront of government operations.
