Scott Turner Sworn in as HUD Secretary, Forecasts Changes to Housing Access and Programs
(Feb. 11, 2025) The U.S. Senate on Feb. 5th confirmed Scott Turner to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Secretary Turner, a former NFL player, had previously served at the White House during President Trump’s first term.
The Senate voted 55-44 to confirm the HUD secretary, with just two Democrats voting in favor of the confirmation. Democrats raised questions during the confirmation process because Secretary Turner’s FBI background check had not been completed.
Following the Senate’s confirmation vote, Secretary Turner was officially sworn in on Feb. 5th to take the helm at HUD, which has a $70 billion budget and nearly 8,000 employees.
During his confirmation hearing in January, Secretary Turner highlighted the need for more housing and emphasized reduction in regulations. Secretary Turner has also spoken publicly about leveraging tax code-based tools like Opportunity Zones to invest in housing, as opposed to more direct public subsidy, which LeadingAge members rely on.
After being sworn in, the new secretary reiterated his goal of expanding housing supply by reducing regulations in conversations with reporters, also expressing other top priorities for the agency such as privatizing the mortgage financing firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Privatization would free the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) from public control; experts say that privatization would be a complex transaction with far-reaching implications for home mortgage rates and availability across the country.
Secretary Turner also signaled an effort by the agency to quickly rescind the Equal Access Rule, an Obama-era policy initiated by the agency in 2016 which ensures equal access for individuals in accordance with their gender identity in programs and shelters receiving federal funding. The 2016 rule built on a 2012 final rule which aimed to ensure that HUD’s housing programs would be open to all eligible individuals and families regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. The two rules were heralded as far-reaching efforts to advance protections and housing access for people who identify as LGBTQ, specifically transgender people who were previously denied access to shelters.
The move to reverse equal access protections under the Trump administration was anticipated by housing and homelessness services providers, but the process for rescinding federal rulemaking will likely need to include new rulemaking, causing delays in reversing current protections.
LeadingAge fully supports equal access and similar protections for older adults who are members of the LGBTQ community.
The Secretary also shared information about his vision for HUD during welcome remarks to agency staff; the welcome message is likely a first indicator of a new direction for the agency under Secretary Turner.
Since mid-January, HUD has reworked its website, including to remove several pages referring to discrimination against LGBTQ people (including references to the equal access rules), information related to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), HUD commitments to climate-resilient housing and energy efficiency, and more. HUD has also pulled down several pending policies from the Multifamily Housing drafting table, including initiatives related to contract bifurcation and preservation, middle-income housing financing, and solar energy for HUD-assisted communities that LeadingAge supported. It is currently unclear whether those policies will continue to be pursued.
LeadingAge is closely monitoring HUD developments and will keep members up to date. Its top priorities for HUD in 2025 include expanding and preserving the Section 202 program, HUD’s flagship senior housing program; improving rental assistance programs for older adults; and increasing Service Coordination programs throughout affordable senior housing. The association looks forward to working with Secretary Turner to advance these and other affordable housing solutions for older adults with low incomes.
Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866