'Do not do this': Trump official shocks with wild new plan to buy a home

[applegrove]

'Do not do this': Trump official shocks with wild new plan to buy a home
Daniel Hampton
January 16, 2026 3:42PM ET

https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-hassett-2674903459/

The Trump administration stunned observers as it cooks up an eyebrow-raising new scheme to tackle America's housing crisis, which calls for dipping into retirement savings.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett made the announcement Friday on Fox Business, Reuters reported.

"We're going to allow people to take money out of their 401(k)s and use that for down payment," he said in an interview.

President Donald Trump "will put the final plan out in Davos next week," he said, referring to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Applegrove: is this the guy Trump wants to be Chair of the Fed? Also maybe people will not live long into retirement what with all the cuts to healthcare and such? Maybe people will not even make it to retirement what with the cancelation of many kinds of research?

[Skittles]

1. Hasset has a crazy punchable face

what an insufferable little worm he is

[highplainsdem]

2. That smile of his...

[Skittles]

4. reminds me if Mnuchin

remember that assclown?

[highplainsdem]

5. Yes. He also gave me the creeps.

[Jim__]

3. From the cited article at RawStory

But critics warn the real problem isn't access to down payment cash, it's a severe shortage of available homes. Without more housing supply, loosening down payment rules could simply drive prices even higher.