Senate Housing Legislation Includes Federal Reserve CBDC Moratorium Through 2030

Quick Overview

Table of Contents

US Senate housing legislation contains language prohibiting the Federal Reserve from launching a CBDC through December 31, 2030
Senate Banking Committee leaders Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren jointly introduced the legislation in an uncommon display of bipartisan cooperation
White House endorsement specifically highlighted the CBDC prohibition, referencing concerns about privacy rights and individual freedoms
The legislation advanced through a procedural cloture vote with an 84–6 margin, setting up full Senate consideration
Dollar-backed stablecoins meeting specific criteria for openness, permissionless access, and privacy protections remain unaffected

Legislation currently moving through the US Senate to address housing challenges contains an unexpected element: a moratorium on Federal Reserve issuance of a central bank digital currency lasting until 2030’s conclusion.

NEW: 🇺🇸U.S. Senate Banking Committee moves to block a retail Fed CBDC under the ROAD to Housing Act.
The restriction lasts until 2030. pic.twitter.com/vpx8sSSqnX
— STEPH IS CRYPTO (@Steph_iscrypto) March 3, 2026

Dubbed the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” the measure was unveiled Monday through a joint effort by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott alongside Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren. Within the bill’s 303 pages, the CBDC moratorium occupies merely two pages.

Legislators demonstrated overwhelming bipartisan approval, with the bill clearing a critical procedural cloture hurdle by an 84–6 count. This vote paves the way for comprehensive Senate floor deliberation and indicates widespread cross-party backing.

The White House released official support for the measure, specifically highlighting the CBDC restriction. Administration officials stated that a government-issued digital dollar risks creating “significant threats to personal privacy and liberty.”

Under the proposed language, the Federal Reserve and all Federal Reserve banks would be prevented from launching a CBDC “directly or indirectly through a financial institution or other intermediary.” The restriction contains an expiration provision terminating on December 31, 2030.

Once that deadline passes, fresh congressional action would be required to maintain the prohibition. Lawmakers would need to pursue additional legislation to either extend the timeframe or establish a permanent restriction.

Scope and Exemptions

The legislation establishes a specific carve-out for stablecoins. Digital currencies pegged to the dollar that maintain “open, permissionless, and private” characteristics while upholding the privacy standards associated with physical currency would remain permissible.

Neither Senator Scott nor Senator Warren referenced the CBDC language in their public remarks regarding the legislation. Both lawmakers concentrated their messaging on housing accessibility and regulatory modernization.

Earlier Legislative Efforts Against CBDCs

Congressional attempts to prevent a digital dollar have occurred previously. Senator Mike Lee put forward the “No CBDC Act” during February 2025, though it failed to gain momentum.

Representative Tom Emmer championed the “Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act” in June 2025. That measure secured passage in a House vote on July 17, 2025, yet remains pending in the full Senate.

The present housing legislation resurrects identical language while embedding it within a bill commanding broader political consensus.

On the international stage, just three nations have fully implemented CBDCs: Nigeria, Jamaica, and The Bahamas. An additional 49 countries, among them China, Russia, India, and Brazil, are conducting active trials of digital currency systems.

The European Union continues its pilot testing phase. Germany’s central banking chief voiced public endorsement for a digital euro during February.

The US Senate housing measure now awaits a complete floor vote, with the CBDC moratorium language remaining intact as drafted.