Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Eviction Moratorium

The Administration believes that CDC’s new moratorium is a proper use of its lawful authority to protect the public health, and we are pleased that the circuit court joined the district court in leaving the moratorium in place that is keeping hard-pressed Americans in their homes in areas of substantial or high COVID-19 spread. Throughout the pandemic, national, State and local eviction moratoria have kept people housed and slowed the spread of COVID-19. As we continue our effort to stop the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the eviction moratorium remains vitally important.

The President continues to call on State and local governments to do more to protect vulnerable households. In the last week, Administration officials have continued their engagement with State and local elected officials and judges to encourage the swift delivery of emergency rental assistance funds and implementation of eviction diversion strategies. As the President has said, State and local elected officials should move more aggressively to distribute the $46.5 billion in Emergency Rental Assistance funds provided in part through the American Rescue Plan. And, State and local courts should issue their own moratoria and implement policies to discourage eviction filings until landlords and tenants have sought Emergency Rental Assistance funds. State and local funds from the American Rescue Plan are also available and should be deployed when needed to support these and other eviction prevention strategies.

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