Biden White House, under pressure from Democrats, responds on evictions

Responding to political pressure to extend the now-expired federal ban on evictions, the Biden administration announced Monday new measures to help prevent evictions.

Responding to political pressure from Democratic leaders and progressives in Congress to extend the federal ban on evictions that expired Saturday, the Biden administration announced Monday new measures to prevent evictions -- but they fell short of the full extension Democrats pushed for, with White House officials continuing to argue they're constrained from doing more by a Supreme Court ruling. "This is a president who really understands the heartbreak of eviction," Gene Sperling, a senior advisor to Biden and American Rescue Plan coordinator, said at an afternoon White House press briefing. "The reason why he is pressing and pressing, even when legal authority looks slim, is because he wants to make sure we have explored every potential authority." The White House said President Joe Biden on Sunday raised with the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control the prospect of executive action though a new, 30-day eviction moratorium -- focused on counties with high or substantial case rates -- to protect renters. "This temporary measure would spur States and localities to ramp up Emergency Rental Assistance programs to full speed this month, giving every landlord the opportunity to collect the rent they are owed and ensuring no eligible family gets evicted," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.