A new provision in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act seeks to stop CBDC discussions
The effort to permanently prohibit a central bank digital currency is intensifying as Republican legislators seek to embed the restriction into a major housing bill scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives.
The Chinese Communist Party uses a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to surveil and control its people.
If the U.S. adopted its own CBDC, privacy and economic freedom as we know it would cease to exist.
My Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act BANS our government from ever…
— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) May 18, 2026
The provision is tied to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which originally proposed a temporary moratorium on digital cash development by the Federal Reserve until late 2030. Lawmakers have amended the language to eliminate the expiration date entirely and ensure the Federal Reserve cannot establish a government-controlled digital asset in the future.
Proponents of the permanent restriction argue that a temporary pause would act as a preparation phase for a future rollout rather than a true prohibition. Critics of central bank digital currencies frequently express significant concerns that a government-controlled token could severely compromise citizen privacy and create dangerous opportunities for official corruption.
Some policy advocates note that digital currencies could potentially broaden financial access for individuals who lack standard banking services, but opponents maintain that using an affordability bill to advance the technology serves as a political deception. Research indicates that only three nations have fully deployed such digital systems while dozens of other countries continue to test the technology in pilot phases.
The push to finalize the permanent restriction reflects broader legislative initiatives aimed at stopping federal digital currency development altogether. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer continues to advocate separately for his independent Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which won approval in the House last year but still awaits a final vote in the Senate.
Incorporating the prohibition into the active housing package gives lawmakers another pathway to codify the restriction into law while the separate, standalone measure remains stalled.
The legislation must successfully pass through both legislative chambers before it can be sent to President Donald Trump to be signed into federal law.
