The Supreme Court ruled for a group of Alabama landlords on Thursday and blocked President Biden from extending for two more months a nationwide pandemic-related ban on evictions.
The justices agreed with a federal judge in Washington who held the administration did not have the legal authority to extend an emergency order that had been adopted by Congress. The eviction ban was part of Congress’ COVID-19-related relief package and was then extended last year by President Trump.
“If a federally imposed eviction moratorium is to continue, Congress must specifically authorize it,” the court said in an unsigned order. Three liberal justices dissented.
It was the court’s second rebuff to Biden this week. On Tuesday, the justices agreed with a Texas judge who said the Biden administration may not revoke Trump’s policy requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while they await a hearing before an immigration judge.
