"White House aides have long been aware that the moratorium would expire on July 31. But the administration was caught off guard by the recent surge in Covid-19 cases fueled by the delta variant, said a senior White House official. The pandemic’s turn for the worse -- combined with the slow dispersal of federal emergency rental assistance money in states and cities -- has lent sudden urgency to the plight of Americans struggling to stay in their homes."
If you've been awake to what's happening on the COVID front recently, you should know that the Delta variant has virtually exploded onto the scene...to the point where restrictions of last year are being contemplated once again...and if so, the impact on employment, incomes, etc. will be revisited. This situation has arisen "suddenly", with no thanks to the resistance to vaccinations by too many misguided "Public Servants".
IMO the Biden administration wanted very much to open things up and tried hard to encourage voluntary vaccinations...with the CDC's new guidelines this week, again due to the Delta variant, the game changed and they are responding...it's a case of policy adapting to medical guidance amidst this COVID pandemic.