Overview
- The Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by an 89–10 vote with Title X blocking the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency through 2031.
- Heritage Foundation economist Peter St. Onge posted a viral warning on X that claimed Congress is sneaking a CBDC into the bill and said 80% of voters oppose it.
- House Republicans are pressing for a permanent ban, and House leaders have said they will renegotiate the Senate text, leaving the fate of the CBDC language uncertain.
- The White House has signaled it would support the package in its current form, and the Federal Reserve says it would not launch any digital dollar without explicit approval from Congress.
- The fight ties into wider crypto policy talks on the CLARITY Act and rules for stablecoins and DeFi, with Senator Cynthia Lummis saying negotiators have largely settled key points and see April as a window for action.