Section 8 continued operating under Trump, but funding and policy shifted

Section 8 was not stopped during the Trump administration. The program continued to exist and pay rent subsidies to current participants. However, the administration did propose budget cuts, implemented stricter rules around who could receive vouchers, and reduced funding for new vouchers in some years. These changes meant fewer new people could enter the program, even though existing participants kept their benefits.

The most significant change was a proposal to cap rent subsidies at a lower percentage of local market rent, which would have reduced what landlords received and what tenants could afford to pay. Congress did not pass this proposal, so it never became law. But the administration did freeze hiring at HUD (the Department of Housing and Urban Development), which slowed processing of new applications and voucher issuance.

Key Takeaways

  • Section 8 remained active throughout the Trump administration and current participants continued receiving rent assistance.
  • The administration proposed budget cuts and stricter income limits, but Congress blocked the most significant proposals from becoming law.
  • Funding for new vouchers was reduced in some years, which meant longer wait lists and fewer new people entering the program.
  • HUD hiring freezes slowed the processing of new applications and voucher issuance during this period.

What changed about who could get a voucher

The Trump administration proposed raising income limits to exclude more people from the program. Under the proposal, households earning above 80 percent of the area median income would have been ineligible, whereas the program had previously served people up to that threshold. This would have removed some current participants from the rolls, though Congress did not pass this change.

The administration also pushed for work requirements and stricter verification of immigration status. Some of these rules were implemented through HUD guidance rather than new law, which meant they applied unevenly across states and cities depending on how local housing authorities interpreted them.

How funding for new vouchers was affected

Congress controls HUD's budget, so the administration could not unilaterally cut Section 8. However, the administration's budget requests in several years asked for fewer new vouchers than the previous administration had requested. In some cases, Congress approved fewer vouchers than advocates had sought, partly because the administration did not push for increases.

The result was that wait lists for Section 8 grew in many cities, and the time to receive a voucher lengthened. Some housing authorities stopped accepting new applications because their wait lists were already years long. This was not unique to the Trump years — wait lists have been long in most major cities for decades — but the reduced funding requests did not help shrink them.

What happened to Section 8 after Trump left office

The Biden administration increased funding requests for new vouchers and proposed expanding the program. Congress approved additional funding in 2021 and 2022, which allowed some housing authorities to issue new vouchers and reduce wait lists slightly. However, the program remains underfunded relative to demand in most places.

No administration has proposed eliminating Section 8 entirely, because the program is deeply embedded in housing policy and has support across both parties. Changes to the program happen through Congress, not through executive action alone, which is why many of Trump's proposed cuts did not take effect.

How to learn about Section 8 is open in your area

Whether Section 8 is accepting new applications depends on your local housing authority, not on federal policy. Some housing authorities have open wait lists, while others have closed them because they are too long. The only way to know is to contact your local housing authority directly or check their website.

You can find your local housing authority through HUD's website or by calling 211. Tell them you want to know whether they are accepting new Section 8 applications. If they are not, ask when they expect to reopen the list. Some housing authorities reopen their lists once a year; others stay closed for years.

What Section 8 rules are in place now

Section 8 operates under federal rules set by HUD, but housing authorities have some flexibility in how they apply them. Current rules require that you earn below 80 percent of the area median income to be may be able to access, though housing authorities can set lower limits. You must be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status, and you must pass a background check.

Rent subsidies are calculated based on your income and the local rent market. You typically pay 30 percent of your income toward rent, and Section 8 pays the rest up to a limit set by HUD. The exact rules vary by housing authority, so it is worth asking your local authority what their specific requirements are before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Trump bring back proposals to cut Section 8?

If Trump returns to office, he could propose budget cuts or policy changes to Section 8 again. However, Congress would have to pass any changes into law. The program cannot be eliminated or significantly restructured by executive order alone. Any major changes would require congressional action.

Did Section 8 participants lose their vouchers under Trump?

No. People who already had Section 8 vouchers kept them throughout the Trump administration. The changes affected new people trying to enter the program, not people already receiving assistance. Current participants continued to receive rent subsidies.

Why is Section 8 so hard to get into?

Section 8 is underfunded relative to demand. There are far more people who meet the income requirements than there are vouchers available. This has been true for decades, across multiple administrations. Wait lists are long in most cities because Congress has not funded the program at the level needed to serve everyone who qualifies.

What is the difference between Section 8 policy and Section 8 funding?

Policy is the rules about who can get a voucher and how much they pay. Funding is the money Congress gives HUD to issue new vouchers. An administration can propose changes to either, but Congress controls the budget and must pass new laws to change policy. This is why some Trump proposals did not take effect.