Judge overturns federal pandemic eviction moratorium

A federal judge vacated the nationwide moratorium on evictions established last year to protect renters who could not pay their rent due to restrictions meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

"The pandemic has triggered difficult policy decisions that have had enormous real-world consequences. The nationwide eviction moratorium is one such decision," D.C. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, ruled on Wednesday.

The Trump administration imposed the eviction moratorium in September using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's quarantine authority. Most recently, the Biden administration said it would remain in effect through June 30. Friedrich concluded that the CDC exceeded its authority by issuing a broad moratorium on all rental property evictions.