Republicans Push CBDC Ban Before Housing Vote

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Republican lawmakers are trying to preserve anti-CBDC language in the House version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act as the chamber prepares to vote on the broader housing package.

At the same time, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is pressing the Senate to take up his Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. The bill began as standalone legislation but has since been attached to the Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act.

Housing Bill Includes 2030 CBDC Sunset

The distinction matters because the housing bill language is not permanent as currently described in public reporting. In March, the Senate housing package included a CBDC ban set to expire on Dec. 31 2030, unless Congress renewed it.

By contrast, Emmer’s broader anti-CBDC measure would bar the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC directly to individuals or indirectly through intermediaries. It would also require explicit congressional authorization for any future government-created digital dollar.

Emmer Pushes Permanent Fed CBDC Ban

Emmer has framed a retail CBDC as a surveillance risk that could give the federal government access to Americans’ transaction data. In his April 29 statement after the House advanced H.R. 1919 to the Senate, he said CBDCs threaten “privacy, freedom, and free market competition.” He also argued that Congress must block the Fed from becoming a retail bank with access to individual financial data.

House Financial Services Chair French Hill has not publicly described the House housing amendment as a crypto measure. His May 14 statement said the revised House amendment reflects feedback from members and stakeholders and is meant to improve the broader housing bill before a vote.

Two Routes Keep CBDC Fight Alive

The strategy gives Republicans two routes to preserve anti-CBDC policy. One path is temporary language in the housing bill that would bar the Fed from issuing or creating a CBDC directly or through intermediaries until Dec. 31, 2030. The other is Emmer’s broader anti-CBDC measure, which has already cleared the House and is awaiting Senate consideration.

Standalone crypto bills can stall in the Senate, so attaching CBDC restrictions to a broader package gives Republicans another way to keep the issue moving. For crypto firms and stablecoin issuers, the push reinforces the current Republican policy split: block a retail U.S. CBDC while leaving room for private-sector digital dollars.

The fight is now over which route, temporary housing-bill language or Emmer’s broader anti-CBDC measure, has the better chance of surviving Congress.