Health and social policy

Executive Order 13878: Establishing a White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing

President: Donald J. Trump

Created a White House council to identify federal, state and local regulatory barriers to affordable housing and propose changes; it did not preempt local zoning by itself.

Status: Completed/expired. Sources: Official source.

Is Executive Order 13878 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13878 of June 25, 2019 created a temporary housing council. Section 7 set its termination for January 21, 2021 unless the President extended it; no later presidential extension is recorded in the Federal Register disposition table.

What does Executive Order 13878 do?

EO 13878 created a White House council to collect information, consult governments and recommend changes that could reduce regulatory barriers to housing supply and affordability.

Later evidence reviewed September 24, 2026: HUD sought public input on regulatory barriers to affordable housing for the White House council established by EO 13878. The request documents council activity, not removal of particular barriers. HUD request for housing-barrier input.

Administration position: The stated directions and policy are summarized from the signed order. See the official text for its precise legal terms.
SignedJune 25, 2019
IssuerPresident Donald J. Trump
TermFirst presidential term

Before and after

Before the order

Housing supply and zoning decisions were largely state and local responsibilities.

After the order

HUD sought public input on regulatory barriers to affordable housing for the White House council established by EO 13878. The request documents council activity, not removal of particular barriers.

Who had to do what

Agency / officialWhat the signed order directedDeadline / timing
Housing and Urban Development Secretary or designee; HUDChair the Council, oversee and consult on its agenda, work and reports, and provide Council funding and administrative support.Council report within 12 months of June 25, 2019; Council terminates January 21, 2021 unless extended.
Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy or designeeServe as vice chair; convene regular meetings, set the agenda and direct work in consultation with the chair; submit implementation and subsequent reports for the Council.Implementation report within 12 months of June 25, 2019; subsequent reports when requested or appropriate.
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy or designeeServe as vice chair; convene regular meetings, set the agenda and direct work in consultation with the chair; submit implementation and subsequent reports for the Council.Implementation report within 12 months of June 25, 2019; subsequent reports when requested or appropriate.
Council, including Treasury, Interior, Agriculture, Labor, Transportation, Energy, EPA, OMB, Council of Economic Advisers, and White House Intergovernmental Affairs representativesObtain stakeholder feedback on housing barriers and successful reforms; evaluate economic effects and improve data; assess agency authority to reduce barriers and support state/local/tribal reforms; recommend policies to streamline housing-development burdens.Work informs the 12-month report; Council terminates January 21, 2021 unless extended.
Heads of agencies and officesProvide Council assistance and information necessary for its functions, consistent with law.No separate deadline stated.

Source: Signed Federal Register text.

What happened next

EO 13878 signed; its Federal Register publication followed.

HUD sought public input on regulatory barriers to affordable housing for the White House council established by EO 13878. The request documents council activity, not removal of particular barriers.

The White House housing council reached the termination date set by section 7 of EO 13878; no later presidential extension is recorded. Official source