Ilya Somin: Trump’s Eviction Moratorium Could set a Dangerous Precedent

Note: this piece was originally published in Reason, and was written by Checks & Balances member Ilya Somin.

On Saturday, the federal government’s Center for Disease Control will issue a new regulation barring eviction of millions of residential tenants around the country. If it survives likely legal challenges, the new policy would set a dangerous precedent undermining federalism, the separation of powers, and property rights. Conservatives, in particular, will have reason to regret it when a Democratic president inherits the same sweeping powers.

The CDC policy bars eviction, until the end of the year, of any residential tenant who makes a sworn declaration to the effect that they 1) have “used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing,” 2) they expect to earn less than $99,000 ($198,000 for joint tax filers) in 2020 or did not have to report any income to the IRS in 2019, or received a stimulus check under  CARES Act, 3)  “the individual is unable to pay the full rent… due to substantial loss of household income… , a lay-off, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses” 4) “the individual is using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual’s circumstances may permit” and 5) “eviction would likely render the individual homeless—or force the individual to move into and live in close quarters in a new congregate or shared living setting.”

Continue reading at Reason.