Congress is advancing the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, a sweeping 325-page bill hailed as the most comprehensive federal housing package in a decade. It spans 40 sections — from zoning reform to housing counseling. But beneath its bipartisan veneer, conservatives should look closer: the ROAD Act runs counter to Republican priorities — local control, market-based solutions, fiscal discipline and homeownership.

To be fair, Republicans secured a few narrow wins: targeted housing exemptions from environmental reviews, support for modular housing, and expanded use of private capital in public housing upkeep. But these gains are minor compared to what Democrats secured.

Start with the budget. The president’s fiscal 2026 proposal rightly called for eliminating the HOME program and Community Development Block Grants — two inefficient, poorly targeted programs. Yet the ROAD Act expands both.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) secured $1 billion for her long-sought Innovation Fund, first proposed in her 2020 presidential campaign. Democrats walked away with billions more for “affordable housing” programs, which are costly, complex and hostile to private development. The bill also launches pilot programs for home repairs and conversions that could........

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