Apr 11, 2025, 11:26
by
Hannah Jane Costilow
Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of public policy issues and headlines from around the Northern Virginia Region, the Commonwealth, and Capitol Hill.
by Danielle Finley, Associate Director of Political Engagement
Welcome to FIVE FOR FRIDAY: A weekly roundup of Public Policy Issues and Headlines. In this Issue: 1. Virginia business leaders assess potential tariff impacts 2. Republicans move to use $2 billion from USAID for veteran housing 3. HUD Updates FHA Loan Residency Requirements: Citizenship or Permanent Residency Now Required 4. Industry Leaders Push for Partnerships to Address Housing Challenges 5. D.C. Councilmember pitches counter to mayor's TOPA reform bill, arguing it is a 'fundamental right'.
By CAMERON THOMPSON, WTVR-TV
As President Donald Trump's latest tariffs take effect at midnight, Virginia businesses and consumers face uncertainty about the impact on importing and purchasing goods. That was the main takeaway from a meeting of a state advisory committee — the Virginia Economic Development Partnership's (VEDP) Advisory Committee on International Trade (ACIT). ACIT Chair Mike Ligon, who worked for the Universal Corporation for 39 years before retiring, said the meeting was to learn as much as they could about the tariff situation and what it could mean to Virginia.
By HAILEY BULLIS, Washington Examiner
Two Senate Republicans are looking to use funding allocated for the embattled U.S. Agency for International Development to instead pay for repairing housing for veterans as the Trump administration works to shutter the agency. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) are introducing the Veterans First Act of 2025 in the Senate on Thursday. The bill, exclusively obtained by the Washington Examiner, seeks to repurpose $2 billion from the agency’s appropriated funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs to instead purchase, build, or repair state veterans homes.
By BOB BURTON, WILL SMITH, The National Law Review
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued Mortgagee Letter 2025-09, which updates the residency requirements for borrowers seeking Federal Housing Authority (FHA) insured financing. These changes take effect on May 25, 2025, and require that the borrower be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident to qualify for FHA-insured mortgages.
By HANNA PAMPALONI, LoudounNow
Virginia Housing is a public-private organization established by the General Assembly in 1972, and operates independently from taxpayer dollars to help residents attain affordable housing. Organization Director of Strategic Housing Chris Thompson said during the April 8 event that the number of available residential units continues to be a significant challenge. “We are not keeping up with demand,” he said. “We're building about 30,000 homes a year, which is less than half of what we were building back in the early 2000s and we continue to see some strains on our capacity.” Contributing to that are side effects from the recession in 2006 that resulted in a decrease of builders, fewer starter homes, and a decline in skilled tradespeople, he said.
By BEN PETERS, Washington Business Journal
D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau on Thursday offered her own legislation to reform the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, a more moderate response to a bill with similar aims introduced by Mayor Muriel Bowser. Nadeau, D-Ward 1, seeks to protect TOPA, a 1980 D.C. law that gives tenants first right of refusal to buy a multifamily property when a landlord wants to sell, while also acknowledging the statute is in need of reform, telling me "there are some things about TOPA that have made it very challenging to use since the beginning."