This research evaluates federal housing policy during the Reagan Administration's tenure in office. To a great extent, housing policy during this period was the policy of the Reagan Administration, as opposed to a policy reached through bargain ing and compromise between the Administration and the Cong gress.
Upon entering office, President Reagan proposed a funda mental shift in federal housing policy, the ultimate intent of which was to eliminate a federal role in the supply of housing (Congressional Quarterly, 1986). As a consequence, he refused to approve any legislation which created new federal housing programs, or increased funding for existing federal housing programs (Congressional Quarterly, 1988). In fact, in most instances, he refused to sign into law any housing legislation which did not either reduce federal housing funding, or, in some way, limit the scope of federal activity in the provision of housing. Although both houses of Congress were able to pass bills expanding federal funding for housing with large majori ties (even in the Republican controlled Senate during the 1981 1982 time period), the Senate was never able to override a Rea gan veto of a housing bill (even after the Republicans lost their majority position in that house).
It was not until 1987 that President Reagan finally agreed to sign a bill which included some modest funding increases for federal housing programs in the 1988 and 1989 fiscal years (Congressional Quarterly, 1988). The President agreed to these increases, in order to obtain an expansion of the voucher pro gram for low income housing assistance.
Thus, the federal housing policy during the tenure of the Reagan Administration was largely Reagan policy. Most federal housing programs existing when Reagan entered office did remain in effect while he was in office; however, their funding was reduced in all instances (Congressional Quarterly, 1988; Con gressional Quarterly, 1986).<...