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EO 13945Executive OrderTrump 45 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 13945

Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners

This executive order directs federal agencies to take steps to prevent residential evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including having CDC consider an eviction moratorium, Treasury and HUD identify rental assistance funds, and FHFA review authorities to prevent housing loss. It does not itself impose a moratorium but rather orders agency consideration and action.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 49935

Impact dates

  1. CDC/HHS consideration of eviction moratorium measures

  2. FHFA review of authorities to prevent evictions/foreclosures

  3. HUD action to promote avoidance of eviction/foreclosure

  4. Treasury/HUD identification of available federal funds for rental assistance

Key directives

  • HHS Secretary and CDC Director shall consider whether temporary eviction halts are reasonably necessary to prevent interstate COVID-19 spread
  • Treasury Secretary and HUD Secretary shall identify all available federal funds for temporary rental/mortgage assistance
  • HUD Secretary shall take action to promote ability of renters/homeowners to avoid eviction or foreclosure
  • FHFA Director shall review existing authorities and resources to prevent evictions and foreclosures, in consultation with Treasury Secretary

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO directs agency heads to consider and review measures

Near term (90d)

  • CDC/HHS consideration of eviction moratorium
  • Treasury/HUD identification of available federal funds
  • FHFA review of authorities to prevent evictions/foreclosures

Long term

  • Potential lasting effects on housing policy precedents
  • Possible extension of federal rental assistance programs

Risks & tensions

  • No hard deadlines specified—agency actions are discretionary ('shall consider,' 'shall identify,' 'shall take action, as appropriate')
  • EO explicitly states it creates no enforceable rights or benefits (Sec. 4(c))
  • Implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' limits fiscal impact (Sec. 4(b))
  • Vague phrasing leaves substantial agency discretion; unclear if this compels concrete action
  • Potential tension between federal eviction restrictions and property rights/state landlord-tenant law
  • Racial equity framing may invite legal challenges on equal protection grounds
Executive Order 13945: Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners · Executive Orders