Top House Democrats on Sunday called on the Biden administration to extend the eviction moratorium amid the coronavirus pandemic, hours after the ban expired, putting millions of Americans at risk of being forced out of their homes.

"Action is needed, and it must come from the Administration. That is why House leadership is calling on the Administration to immediately extend the moratorium," Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-MA.) wrote in a joint statement.

The group cited the rising risks associated with COVID-19, particularly with the highly infectious delta variant spreading throughout the country, as reasons why the moratorium should be extended through Oct. 18.

"As the CDC doubles down on mask-wearing and vaccination efforts, science and reason demand that they must also extend the moratorium in light of the delta variant," the lawmakers wrote. "Doing so is a moral imperative to keep people from being put out on the street which also contributes to the public health emergency."

The eviction moratorium expired at midnight on Saturday after the House left for recess two days earlier, unable to strike a deal on an extension.

The Biden administration called on Congress to pass an emergency extension of the eviction ban, set in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Thursday, three days before it was set to expire.

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