Federal Judge Dabney Friedrich struck down on Wednesday the national eviction moratorium, potentially leaving millions of Americans at risk of losing their homes two months earlier than expected.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has banned most evictions across the country since September. The protection was slated to expire at the end of January, but President Joe Biden has extended it, first until April, and later through June.
Some 1 in 5 renters across the U.S. are struggling to keep up with their payments amid the coronavirus pandemic, and states are scrambling to disburse more than $45 billion in rental assistance allocated by Congress.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said it planned to appeal the ruling. It also seeks a stay of the decision, meaning the ban would remain in effect throughout the court battle.
As long as the government allows these people to remain in the homes they will refuse to pay rent. The people or companies that own the homes will never be paid for back rent. Sure they can sue but they will never get their money. Meanwhile those that own a home and don’t pay their property taxes will have their homes sold. Once again those that are responsible and saved enough to purchase a house will be punished while those that live off the “free stuff” benefit once again.