Denver Newsroom, Aug 27, 2021 / 17:02 pm
The Supreme Court struck down a nationwide moratorium on evictions late Thursday. Housing advocates are urging that congressional aid for those facing eviction should be a top priority.
In a 6-3 ruling delivered Aug. 26, the Supreme Court determined that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) overstepped its authority in ordering the eviction moratorium earlier this month. The court added that a 1944 statute did not give the agency the authority to do so.
"If a federally imposed eviction moratorium is to continue, Congress must specifically authorize it," the court majority wrote.
“It is indisputable that the public has a strong interest in combating the spread of the COVID–19 delta variant,” the majority opinion continued. “But our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends. It is up to Congress, not the CDC, to decide whether the public interest merits further action here.”