When the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on June 24 that it

would extend the moratorium until July 31, Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky noted
that it was "intended to be the final extension of the moratorium."
However, as Democratic lawmakers have pushed on Biden to extend the moratorium --
regardless of the Supreme Court's decision -- the administration has announced that
it continues to look for legal authority to extend the moratorium.
"To date, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and her team have been unable to find
legal authority for a new, targeted eviction moratorium," White House press
secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Monday. "Our team is redoubling efforts to
identify all available legal authorities to provide necessary protections."
As CNN's Kevin Liptak reported, Biden asked the CDC on Sunday to look for legal
options to impose an eviction ban focused on places with high Covid-19 transmission
rates. The agency told the administration Monday they did not believe such
authority existed.
One administration official told CNN: "We spent a lot of time looking at it. The
Supreme Court ruling is very clear."
So far, only a small fraction of the $47 billion Emergency Rental Assistance
program has been distributed. While some states have extended their own moratoriums
an estimated 11 million adult renters are currently behind on rent.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki sought to further explain Biden's thinking on
Tuesday, suggesting a challenge to the court could hamper the federal government's
public health authorities going forward.
"There are concerns about what the impact would be on the long term abilities,
authorities, of the CDC. Their team is looking closely, carefully, has been since
the president asked them to on Sunday, at what our options are here," she said,
responding to a question from CNN's Phil Mattingly
On Tuesday CNN reported the administration is expected to announce new efforts
aimed at limiting evictions, according to an administration official, though
details are still unclear. An official familiar with the matter told CNN the
announcement will not be another nationwide eviction freeze but something more
limited, targeted to places with high Covid spread.
During a press conference Tuesday, Biden told reporters that "any call for a
moratorium, based on the Supreme Court('s) recent decision, is likely to face
obstacles." Biden said that he has asked the CDC to "look at other alternatives"
and said the agency would make an announcement later in the day.
Biden said that while it's unclear if new action from the CDC would survive the
courts, "at a minimum, by the time it gets litigated it will probably give some
additional time while we're" distributing the ERA funds. The President said he's
hoping the new moratorium from the CDC will "in some way (cover) close to 90% of
the American people who are renters."
Prior to the expected announcement, Psaki indicated the White House was exploring
additional powers to push states to enact their own eviction bans, noting there is
emergency rental assistance funding available to help allay financial hardships for
renters and landlords.
"We are continuing to work on several tracks on this front. The President wants to
keep people in their homes," she said.
This story has been updated.
CNN's Kevin Liptak and Kaitlin Collins contributed to this article.