White House Weighs Executive Action to Cap Credit Card Rates

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Bloomberg

January 16, 2026 at 6:39 PM EST


The White House is weighing an executive action to enact President Donald Trump’s call for a cap on credit card interest rates, in addition to other measures seeking to ease US affordability challenges.

The plan, which is still being crafted as administration officials discuss the terms with industry and Congress, is designed to lower interest rates on credit cards as part of a broader push to reduce costs for Americans, according to people familiar with the matter. Trump’s action may also call on regulators to relax certain liquidity standards to help make the plan more attractive for the banks, said the people, who asked not to be identified citing private discussions.

Trump’s administration has promised to announce a range of measures as part of his affordability push, including a ban on institutional investors buying single-family homes and a move to let savers tap 401(k) retirement plans for home down payments. Although the timing on the potential executive action on credit card rates remains in flux, Trump said he’ll give further details on his affordability push when he speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland next week.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Friday in an interview on Mornings With Maria on Fox Business that the administration has been in talks with the big banks who “think that the president’s on to something.” The measures under consideration from the White House also include a possible bid to block stock buybacks for publicly traded homebuilders, some of the people said. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte teed up the idea in an interview with the Wall Street Journal earlier this week.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-16/white-house-weighs-executive-action-to-cap-credit-card-rates

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No paywall (gift)

[SalamanderSleeps]

1. The Trump distraction machine is going full tilt! eom

[durablend]

2. Expect mass account closures and credit limit cuts if this goes through

Or maybe that's his objective to screw over the masses.

[Bengus81]

3. BFD Trump,it's too fucking late and what would be YOUR cap? 35-40%

[Old Crank]

4. Capitalists now want Price controls.

Where are the lieberarians?
Krugman suggests just bring back the agency that protects borrowers that he has slashed.

[The Madcap]

5. So he now wants us to use cash for our purchases?

I would think that would stifle consumption significantly. Also, I would think those of us who pay the full balance every month would end up getting charged interest just to make up for some of the issuer's lost profits.

Don't get me wrong. I think credit card rates are extortionate, but a chop of rates so extreme so quickly would be a devastating shock to the system.

Hold onto your pennies. You might need them later.

[Jacson6]

6. The only interest rates he could dictate are loans for the Federal Government.

Congress would have to pass a law and that is impossible because the banks fill their campaign accounts with money.

[Grins]

7. "Executive action?" On private businesses?

Can’t wait for the response from fiscal conservatives.

[bronxiteforever]

8. Alert! Trump Performative Trap. He knows the executive order

Will be challenged in the Courts and be found illegal. He makes the GOP look like concerned citizens without having to place the federal legislature in the crosshairs by voting against the interests of the banksters (their best buds). Heavens forbid that the GOP Congress ever be accountable for any positions.

“It is a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury signifying nothing.”