Scott Turner faced his confirmation hearing on Thursday as he seeks to become the next housing secretary under President-elect Donald Trump. The hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee focused on Turner’s plans to address housing affordability, homelessness, and potential reforms to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) housing subsidy programs.
Turner, a former NFL player, shared personal stories during the hearing, including how his family helped his homeless veteran uncle. “When they found him, my family and I were able to come around him, to love him, to take him in, to give him the wraparound services that he needed,” Turner said. He also acknowledged HUD’s recent report showing an 18.1% increase in homelessness in the US, with 770,000 people counted as homeless in 2024. “HUD, if you will, is failing at its most basic mission,” Turner said. “And that has to come to an end.”
Turner was pressed for specifics on how he would reform HUD’s housing subsidy programs, particularly the Section 8 voucher program. While he did not commit to increasing the number of vouchers, a priority for Democrats, he said he wanted to make the program more efficient and less burdensome for landlords. Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, urged Turner to protect US citizens in HUD housing even if undocumented people were in their household. Turner responded that he would uphold existing laws, saying, “We do not like to tear up families, but we have an obligation to serve the American people.”
Turner, the only Black nominee for Trump’s Cabinet, was also questioned about his vision for HUD as the enforcer of fair housing laws. He committed to upholding these laws but did not address potential changes to Obama- and Biden-era initiatives aimed at reducing housing discrimination. He also avoided committing to advocating for fair housing policies if Trump sought to weaken them.
When asked about potential budget cuts to HUD, Turner said, “I do commit to having those conversations with the president and with Congress as it pertains to being an ambassador and a voice for HUD, and to maximize the budget that we are given.”
Throughout the hearing, Turner used sports analogies to illustrate his points, drawing chuckles with references to his NFL career, including being drafted in the 7th round. “Which is the last round for those that don’t know,” he quipped.
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