House GOP housing bill amendment keeps Fed CBDC ban through 2030

House Republican leadership has introduced an amendment to the ‘ROAD to Housing Act’ that preserves a ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) until the end of 2030, according to a report from Punchbowl News reporter Brendan Pedersen. The amendment includes a narrow exception for open, permissionless, and privacy-preserving dollar-denominated currencies.

Amendment details and legislative context

The amendment also contains a rule of construction clarifying that the Fed cannot issue a CBDC without separate, explicit approval from Congress. This provision addresses concerns among some lawmakers that the central bank might bypass legislative oversight in developing a digital dollar.

The Senate passed the underlying bill in March with a strong bipartisan vote of 89-10. However, the legislation has stalled in the House due to opposition from conservative members over several points, including the 2030 sunset date for the CBDC ban and a separate requirement that large institutional investors sell single-family homes they have purchased within seven years.

Why the CBDC ban matters

The debate over a U.S. CBDC has intensified in recent years, with proponents arguing it could modernize the payment system and improve financial inclusion. Critics, including many Republicans, warn that a government-controlled digital currency could be used for surveillance and to restrict financial freedom.

The amendment’s allowance for ‘open, permissionless, and privacy-preserving’ dollar-denominated currencies suggests a potential compromise that could accommodate stablecoins or other private-sector digital dollar initiatives while blocking a Fed-issued CBDC.

What this means for the housing bill’s path forward

The inclusion of the CBDC ban in the housing-focused legislation reflects the broader political strategy of attaching financial technology policy to must-pass bills. With the House yet to vote on the measure, the amendment aims to address conservative concerns while keeping the bill moving. The requirement for institutional home sellers remains a separate sticking point.

Conclusion

The House GOP amendment reinforces a cautious approach to central bank digital currencies in the United States, maintaining a legislative ban on a Fed-issued CBDC through 2030 while leaving the door open for private-sector digital dollar innovations. The outcome of the housing bill will also signal the level of congressional support for restricting Fed authority over digital currency development.

FAQs

Q1: What is a CBDC?
A central bank digital currency is a digital form of a country’s fiat currency issued and regulated by its central bank. Unlike cryptocurrencies, a CBDC is a direct liability of the central bank.

Q2: Why does the amendment allow some digital dollar currencies?
The amendment permits ‘open, permissionless, and privacy-preserving’ dollar-denominated currencies, which could include certain stablecoins or other private digital assets that meet those criteria, while blocking a Fed-issued CBDC without congressional approval.

Q3: What happens if the housing bill fails?
If the ROAD to Housing Act does not pass the House, the CBDC ban provision would not become law. The Fed would remain free to continue its research into a CBDC, but would still need congressional authorization to issue one.