The legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 85–5 and passed the House 358-32. The president is refusing to sign the bill, leaving the next steps uncertain.
The bill includes provisions intended to increase housing supply, reduce barriers to residential development, and address institutional investor activity in the housing market. The legislation is particularly significant for architects, as many of its housing-focused provisions could help advance new multi-family projects, expand housing opportunities in communities across the country, and create greater demand for design services. More analysis will be provided in future updates.
Building Housing Affordably Act
- Require HUD to conduct a study of the effects of BABA on affordable housing development and the BABA waiver process followed by a report to Congress containing all the study's findings
- Stay Implementation of BABA on covered affordable housing projects until 60 days after the report mandated by the Act is delivered to Congress.
- Institute a 90 day "shot clock" for reviewing BABA waivers for affordable housing projects. If waivers are not processed within 90 days, the waiver shall be "deemed to have been granted."
AIA's Response to FEMA Review Council Report
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) submitted comments in response to the FEMA Review Council's report on June 8th, 2026, emphasizing the urgent need for a stronger, fully staffed, and modernized federal emergency management system to address increasingly severe disasters. It highlights the critical role architects play in resilience, preparedness, and recovery, while raising concerns about the politicization of disasters, reduced FEMA capacity, inconsistent funding for mitigation programs like BRIC, HMA, HMGP, and the need for stronger building codes, credentialing, and robust risk data systems. Overall, AIA calls for comprehensive federal reforms-including sustained investment-to support resilient infrastructure and better protect communities.
Historic Preservation: Eisenhower Executive Office Building
The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) held a hearing that generated roughly 2,000 comments, all in opposition to the proposed paint scheme, and several stakeholders testified in person. NCPC approved a staff‑written document requesting extensive additional information before any paint job will be considered, including testing to determine whether the proposed paint will work on granite and other masonry surfaces without causing permanent damage. The administration is now conducting testing in response, and there are also motions pending in the related litigation challenging the proposal.
Kennedy Center Preservation
AIA joined a broad coalition of leading preservation and architecture organizations in filing a federal lawsuit to require the administration to comply with historic preservation laws and obtain explicit congressional authorization before implementing plans to further alter the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The D.C. District Court granted a preliminary injunction that bars demolition or substantial alteration of defining architectural elements while the case proceeds and requires the government to complete the required public review and consultation processes before undertaking any fundamental redesign.
As part of that order, the "Trump Performing Arts Center" naming provisions associated with the contemplated redesign must be removed from project and fundraising materials unless and until Congress affirmatively authorizes such changes, ensuring that no rebranding or naming changes go forward while statutory review requirements remain unmet.
White House Ballroom
AIA and ten other national and local nonprofit organizations filed an amicus curia ("friend of the court") brief supporting the National Trust for Historic Preservation's lawsuit challenging the demolition of the White House East Wing and construction of a new above‑ground ballroom on the White House grounds, a designated national park unit. The brief urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reinstate the preliminary injunction and halt further ballroom construction, emphasizing that each president is only a temporary steward of the White House and cannot demolish or radically expand the complex without clear authorization and appropriations from Congress.
Professional Student Loans
Report Language: The report accompanying the FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill includes AIA's report language:
Professional Fields.-The Committee recognizes the importance of maintaining strong, affordable pathways for students preparing to enter a wide range of careers, including professional fields. The Committee is interested in understanding the effects of the Department's Reimagining and Improving Student Education regulation on such pathways and program costs. The Committee directs the Department to provide a report to the Committees within 12 months following the completion of the 2027–2028 academic year, on the implementation of the regulation and effects on programs and professions not designated as ''professional.'' The report should include an analysis of recent trends in enrollment, prices, and borrowing among programs most affected by changes in loan limits. The Department may include, as appropriate, any observations or considerations regarding the designation of professional programs based on the nature of the training, regulatory requirements, costs, and workforce needs.
Briefing: AIA and the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA) hosted a Congressional briefing, "The RISE and Fall of Graduate Access: Student Loan Limit Implications for Graduate Degree Programs," examining the far-reaching consequences of the RISE final rule on graduate and professional education programs nationwide. The briefing featured opening remarks from congressional staff followed by a cross-disciplinary panel highlighting workforce and student impacts. AIA President-elect Yiselle Santos, AIA, underscored the urgency of addressing the rule, emphasizing the significant and lasting impact it will have on the architecture profession if left unchanged.
Other Lawsuits
AIA is considering joining ongoing litigation challenging the Department of Education's implementation of the RISE final rule, potentially through filing an amicus brief. AIA is currently evaluating participation in the broader, multi-sector case led by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and have reached out to coalition partners and counsel for additional details on what involvement would entail.
There are two other lawsuits on AIA's radar - one pertaining to nurses and filed by the Nurses Association, and the other filed by 25 individual states.