Democrats at odds over how to extend federal eviction moratorium

Washington — House Democratic leaders are putting pressure on the Biden administration to extend the federal eviction moratorium as they face mounting frustration within the party to stave off a looming eviction crisis. But the White House said it is on Congress to act to keep people from being kicked out of their homes amid the pandemic. 

The back and forth over who must act comes after the federal moratorium expired Saturday night and millions are living in fear of becoming homeless. More than 7.4 million households are behind on rent, according to the latest Census Bureau survey data from early July, and some housing experts put that number higher. Of those 7.4 million, more than 3.6 million said they would likely have to leave their homes in the next two months due to eviction. On Monday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Democratic lawmakers encouraging them to help get more than $46 billion in emergency rental assistance already allocated by Congress out the door. She also once again said it was on the Biden administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend the federal eviction moratorium.