Section 8 funding was not cut during Trump's presidency, but the program did not grow as it had in previous years

The Trump administration (2017–2021) did not eliminate Section 8 or reduce the total number of vouchers in circulation. The program continued to operate, and existing voucher holders kept their housing assistance. However, the administration's budget proposals included flat or reduced funding requests for new vouchers and program administration, which meant fewer new people could enter the program compared to the rate of growth under previous administrations.

The distinction matters: Section 8 did not shrink in size, but it also did not expand to serve more households. Waiting lists in most cities remained long, and in some places grew longer. A person on a waiting list in 2017 was unlikely to receive a voucher by 2021 unless their city or state had separate funding sources.

Budget proposals and actual spending are not the same thing. Congress, not the White House, controls final appropriations. Some proposed cuts did not pass, and some programs received more money than the administration requested. The actual year-to-year changes in Section 8 funding were smaller than the headlines sometimes suggested.

Key Takeaways

  • Section 8 vouchers were not eliminated or reduced in number during the Trump administration, though funding requests for new vouchers were lower than in previous years.
  • People who already held Section 8 vouchers continued to receive assistance without interruption.
  • The lack of growth meant waiting lists did not shrink, and in many cities they grew longer.
  • Congress controls final spending, so some proposed budget cuts did not become law.
  • The Biden administration (2021–present) has requested higher funding levels for Section 8 expansion, though appropriations remain below the level needed to clear most waiting lists.

How Section 8 funding actually works

Section 8 is funded through annual appropriations bills passed by Congress. The President's budget proposal is a request, not a law. Congress decides the final amount, and it often differs from what the White House asked for. This means a President can propose cuts that Congress rejects, or propose increases that Congress reduces.

Section 8 has two main funding streams: voucher funding (which pays the difference between what a tenant pays and what the unit costs) and administrative funding (which pays the local housing authorities that run the program). Both require annual appropriations. When Congress appropriates less money for vouchers, housing authorities cannot issue new vouchers to people on waiting lists, even if demand is high.

The number of vouchers in use at any given time is relatively stable because existing voucher holders keep their assistance. The growth or shrinkage happens at the margins—in how many new vouchers can be issued each year. During the Trump years, that number was lower than it had been in the 2010s, which meant waiting lists did not move as fast.

What changed between 2017 and 2021

The Trump administration's budget proposals for fiscal years 2018 through 2021 generally requested level or slightly reduced funding for Section 8 compared to the previous year. In some years, the proposals included language suggesting that existing vouchers should be "recaptured" (taken back from people who moved or left the program) and reissued to new people, rather than funding new vouchers outright. This would have reduced the total number of people served, but Congress did not approve this approach.

In practice, Congress appropriated enough money to maintain the existing voucher base and issue some new vouchers each year, though the number of new vouchers was lower than during the Obama administration (2009–2017). The Congressional Research Service documented that the number of vouchers in use stayed relatively flat, hovering around 2.2 million nationwide.

The impact was felt most acutely by people on waiting lists. In cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, waiting lists remained years long. People who applied in 2017 were unlikely to receive a voucher by 2021. In some jurisdictions, waiting lists were closed entirely because the backlog was so large.

Waiting lists and local variation

Section 8 is administered locally by public housing authorities in each city and county. Waiting list length and wait time depend on local funding, local demand, and how many vouchers that authority holds. A city with a large voucher program and low turnover might have a five-year waiting list. A smaller city with more turnover might have a two-year list or no list at all.

The Trump administration's budget proposals did not change this structure, but they also did not increase funding to reduce waiting lists. Some cities used state or local money to fund additional vouchers, but most did not. The result was that waiting lists in high-demand areas stayed long, and in some cases got longer as population grew and housing costs rose.

If you are on a Section 8 waiting list, your position depends on your local housing authority's funding and your place on their list, not on federal policy changes. Contacting your housing authority directly is the only way to know your actual position and timeline.

Comparison to other administrations

The Obama administration (2009–2017) requested and received higher funding for Section 8 expansion, particularly in the years after the 2008 financial crisis. The number of vouchers issued to new households increased during those years. The Trump administration's requests were lower, which slowed that growth. The Biden administration (2021–present) has requested higher funding levels again, though Congress has not appropriated enough to significantly reduce waiting lists.

Across all administrations, the gap between the number of people who want Section 8 and the number of vouchers available has remained large. No recent administration has requested or received enough funding to eliminate waiting lists. The debate is about the pace of growth, not about whether the program exists.

What Section 8 holders should know

If you held a Section 8 voucher during the Trump years, your assistance was not affected by budget proposals or policy changes. Your voucher remained valid, your rent subsidy continued, and you could move to a new unit as long as it met program standards and the landlord accepted Section 8. The program operated normally for existing participants.

The changes affected people trying to enter the program, not people already in it. If you were on a waiting list in 2017, the slower growth in new vouchers meant your wait was likely longer than it would have been under higher funding. But if you already had a voucher, nothing changed for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Trump eliminate Section 8?

No. Section 8 continued to operate throughout the Trump administration. Existing voucher holders kept their assistance. The program was not eliminated, defunded, or shut down. Budget proposals included lower funding requests for new vouchers, but Congress did not approve cuts that would have reduced the total number of vouchers in use.

Can I still get Section 8 now?

Section 8 is still available, but waiting lists remain long in most cities. You can contact your local public housing authority to learn about their waiting list status. Some authorities have closed their lists temporarily because the backlog is too large. Others accept applications on a rolling basis. Your housing authority's website will tell you whether they are accepting new applicants.

Why is the Section 8 waiting list so long?

Waiting lists are long because demand for affordable housing is high and the number of vouchers available has not kept pace with that demand. Congress controls funding, and appropriations have not been high enough to serve everyone who needs help. This has been true across multiple administrations and is not specific to any one President's policies.

What happened to Section 8 funding under Biden?

The Biden administration has requested higher funding levels for Section 8 expansion than the Trump administration did. Congress has appropriated some additional money, but not enough to significantly reduce waiting lists. The program continues to operate, and new vouchers are being issued, but the pace of growth remains slower than the demand for assistance.

If I have a Section 8 voucher, could it be taken away?

No. Once you have a Section 8 voucher, it cannot be taken away because of budget cuts or policy changes. You keep your voucher as long as you follow program rules (paying your share of rent, maintaining the unit, reporting income changes). Budget proposals or administrative changes do not affect people who already hold vouchers.