AMERICA FIRST: Trump Signs Order to Lower Mortgage Costs

President Donald J. Trump has delivered another major win for American families. On March 13, 2026, he signed the executive order “Promoting Access to Mortgage Credit,” slashing through heavy regulations that have blocked hardworking people from buying homes and putting relief directly in their hands.

The order instructs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and federal banking regulators to overhaul burdensome Dodd-Frank rules, including Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage standards, TILA-RESPA disclosures, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act reporting, appraisal mandates, and servicing restrictions. These rules have driven up costs and slowed lending for years.

Many conservatives and housing advocates see the move as a major shift that could unleash competition, drive down borrowing costs, and revive the American Dream for millions locked out of homeownership by red tape. By easing the burden on community banks and smaller lenders, the order opens the door for more loans, quicker approvals, and new innovation in the mortgage market.

The action targets federal rules that critics say have inflated housing prices. Many argue these mandates have added tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of new homes, pricing out everyday Americans who simply want to own a home.

Paired with a companion order signed the same day aimed at removing barriers to home construction, the policy tackles what many see as the root problems: overregulation, lengthy permitting delays, and policies that favor major financial institutions over local lenders.

Community banks in particular stand to benefit. These smaller institutions, which often serve local neighborhoods and rural communities, have struggled under compliance rules designed primarily for large Wall Street banks. The new order aims to give these lenders more freedom to serve borrowers in their communities.

Lower mortgage rates could follow as competition among lenders increases. When lenders can compete without layers of federal restrictions, borrowers often see better loan terms and lower closing costs.

The order updates origination and closing procedures while maintaining core safeguards for financial stability. Backers describe it as targeted deregulation that removes unnecessary bureaucracy while keeping essential protections in place.

Working families across the country could see the biggest impact. Many who have been priced out of the housing market or trapped in long-term renting due to rigid lending standards may now find new opportunities to qualify for mortgages.

Critics of past regulatory policies argue that decades of expanding federal mandates have made housing dramatically more expensive. Some estimates suggest regulatory costs have added as much as $90,000 to the price of a new home.

The executive order attempts to reverse that trend. Streamlining disclosure and reporting requirements reduces paperwork that often slows transactions and adds extra fees.

The goal is to return lending decisions to basic financial fundamentals. Creditworthiness, rather than overly complex regulatory checklists, should determine eligibility.

Home builders are also expected to respond positively. With fewer federal obstacles, many anticipate increased construction activity that could create jobs while expanding housing supply and easing price pressure.

The move is also viewed as part of a broader effort to scale back the power of federal regulators and restore decision-making to markets and local institutions.

With midterm elections approaching, housing affordability has become a central issue for many voters. Families struggling with high home prices and rising rents are closely watching whether the policy leads to real relief.

The executive order itself lays out the administration’s guiding principle clearly: “Every American seeking to buy a home should have access to a mortgage from a reliable lender, at a rate commensurate with his or her creditworthiness.”

Community lenders may now face fewer compliance threats and regulatory penalties, potentially allowing them to expand lending programs and reach more borrowers.

Industry observers also expect new lending models and technologies to emerge as regulatory barriers are reduced, creating more flexible mortgage options tailored to modern borrowers.

Concerns that deregulation could threaten financial stability have been raised by some critics. However, advocates argue that core safeguards protecting the banking system remain intact while unnecessary rules are being removed.

The administration also believes the policy will hold up against legal challenges, pointing to the influence of recent judicial appointments.

Many economists predict that expanded lending and increased homebuilding could stimulate job growth across construction, real estate, and financial services.

For many families, homeownership represents the foundation of long-term wealth and stability. The order aims to reopen that path.