Trump’s Eviction Ban Doesn't Go Far Enough

Millions of people in the U.S. are facing the threat of eviction amid one of the worst health and economic crises in the nation’s history. Helping them should be a top priority. The Trump administration says it agrees and knows how to do it. Unfortunately, the policy it just announced is poorly judged.

At the president’s behest, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed a moratorium on evictions, effective through Dec. 31. The stated aim is to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by keeping people at home and out of crowded homeless shelters. The protection applies to people who attest that they expect to earn less than $99,000 in 2020 ($198,000 for joint tax filers), can’t make full rent or housing payments despite best efforts, have sought government assistance and would end up homeless if evicted.