WASHINGTON, D.C. — A national housing advocacy organization is raising concerns about two recent executive orders issued by the Donald Trump administration that are intended to expand access to mortgage credit and reduce regulatory barriers to building homes.
The orders, signed March 13, 2026, are titled ‘Promoting Access to Mortgage Credit’ and ‘Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction.’ According to the administration, the measures are designed to encourage increased lending by community banks and smaller financial institutions and to stimulate the construction of more single-family homes.
Officials supporting the executive actions say the changes are aimed at making it easier for financial institutions with assets of up to $100 billion to extend mortgage credit while reducing regulations that may slow housing development.
However, the National Fair Housing Alliance said it is concerned the orders could weaken certain consumer protection and fair-lending safeguards that were established in the wake of the 2008 housing and financial crisis.
The group argues that maintaining strong oversight of mortgage lending is an important component of protecting borrowers and ensuring fair access to housing.
“Full enforcement of the Fair Housing Act is key to addressing the nation’s housing challenges,” said Nikitra Bailey, executive vice president of the National Fair Housing Alliance. “Our nation’s civil rights and consumer protection laws play an important role in ensuring that individuals are treated fairly in the mortgage process.”
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 established federal policy aimed at preventing discrimination in housing and lending. Housing advocates say the law continues to serve as a central framework for addressing barriers to homeownership.
The National Fair Housing Alliance said the new executive orders could affect several existing regulations governing mortgage lending, including rules related to reporting lending data and evaluating borrower qualifications.
Advocates say such regulations were strengthened after the 2008 financial crisis through legislation such as the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Those reforms were intended to improve transparency in mortgage lending and reduce the likelihood of risky lending practices that contributed to the housing market collapse.
In recent years, policymakers and housing organizations have also promoted programs designed to expand access to homeownership, including special credit programs for first-time buyers and updated credit-scoring models intended to broaden access to mortgage financing.
According to housing analysts, the United States continues to face a significant housing shortage that has contributed to rising home prices and rental costs in many communities.
Federal officials have said reducing regulatory obstacles could help increase housing supply by making it easier to build new homes. Supporters of the executive orders argue that easing certain requirements could allow lenders and builders to respond more quickly to market demand.
Housing advocates, however, say that expanding housing access will likely require a combination of strategies, including increased housing construction, stronger consumer protections, and policies designed to support first-time and lower-income buyers.
The National Fair Housing Alliance also emphasized the importance of maintaining transparency in mortgage lending data. The organization says that detailed reporting requirements under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act have historically helped regulators identify patterns of discrimination or unfair lending practices.
Advocates argue that continued monitoring and enforcement are necessary to ensure that all borrowers have equal access to mortgage credit.
As the new executive orders move forward, housing policy experts expect continued debate over how best to balance efforts to increase housing supply with protections designed to ensure fairness and stability in the mortgage market.
For many policymakers, the broader challenge remains addressing the rising cost of housing while expanding opportunities for homeownership across the country.
