In a commitment to accuracy and transparency, the Virgin Islands Consortium is issuing this clarification regarding a previously published article that stated a two-year cap on Section 8 housing assistance for able-bodied adults was included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on July 4, 2025.
That claim was incorrect. The two-year cap referenced in our earlier article is not part of the enacted legislation. Instead, it originates from the Trump administration’s FY 2026 discretionary budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which is currently pending review in Congress and has not been enacted into law.
The error in our reporting arose from an internal misinterpretation of overlapping federal policy developments. Our editorial team’s review of HUD’s FY 2026 budget proposal—which does include a recommended two-year cap on Section 8 assistance—was inadvertently conflated with the contents of the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law. Discussions around the proposal, including statements made by public officials expressing concern over its potential impact, contributed to the confusion between what was proposed and what was enacted.
While the One Big Beautiful Bill does include significant housing-related provisions—such as increased allocations for HUD's rental assistance programs and steps toward shifting administrative control of some housing programs to states—it does not impose a time limit on Section 8 housing aid. The two-year cap remains solely a proposal within the pending FY 2026 budget and has not advanced through the congressional appropriations process.
The original article has since been corrected to reflect these facts. The headline, opening paragraph, and relevant content have been revised to ensure the public has a clear and accurate understanding of what is, and is not, currently law.
We take full responsibility for the error and have issued this clarification to set the record straight. While the mistake was unintentional, we recognize the importance of precision, especially in reporting on policies that affect vulnerable populations. We remain firmly committed to factual, balanced journalism and will continue to correct the record when necessary.
For readers and policymakers following this issue, we encourage continued attention to the FY 2026 budget deliberations, as the proposed Section 8 cap may yet become a point of national and territorial debate in the months ahead.
