Scott Turner, President of President Trump of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) nominated, is an inspired choice to lead the department.
I met Scott for the first time in 2019, he briefly started the leader White House Opportunities and Revitalization Council. He had a not enviable task. Scott should argue 17 federal agencies to support the promotion of public and private investments in opportunities zones.
I’m not sure where Scott found the energy. He personally visited more than 70 economically distracting areas to see the struggles and hope of these communities firsthand. The results speak for themselves. Kansones have attracted more than $ 200 billion in investments – inflaming economic development and job growth.
Scott’s experience and passion for creating economic opportunities will serve HUD well. He will have a heavy workload with an agency aimed at perpetuating government programs that handle poverty.
On the first day, Scott can look around and wonder if he is Hud’s only employee. A recent report from the Inspector General of HUD found 85% of the employees of the Telewerking department, while another 9% work remotely. On the first day, Scott has to recall all HUD employees to their desks.
Numbers of homelessness continue to shoot. Hud’s Most recent count Found a dramatic 18% peak since 2023. The increase in homelessness coincided with the greatest rise in financing in the history of the HUD’s Homelessness program. It is clear that money alone is not the problem. HUD must continue with the one -off “Housing First” approach of one size. Instead, sources must re -concentrate on programs with a demonstrated track record of success.
Maintaining the Fair Housing Act is one of HUD’s legal responsibilities. Nevertheless, the BIDEN administration is more focused on creating complexity, bureaucracy and process risks instead of combating discrimination. The administration must withdraw the unworkable confirming further fair housing rule. The inexpensive impact rule must also join a statement by the Supreme Court of almost a decade ago.
Then there is Hud’s budget, which is full of programs that cannot be justified if we have a national debt of $ 36 trillion. For example, the Community Development Block Grant – which sends blank checks to rich communities annually – can be eliminated immediately.
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has been capitalized well for the time being. But the programs must be better focused so that they do not expel private capital.
Finally, rental assistance and social housing continues to eat an ever-growing share of the total HUD budget. But they do not serve extra households. Given the limited resources and the long waiting lists for help, we have to do everything we can to graduate residents to self -supply.
That is a long task list but I know that Scott Turner is up to the task. The Senate must overlook the fact that he played for the Washington Redskins and confirm him quickly, so that he can start tackling the in -depth housing challenges of our nation.
Len Wolfson is a partner at Federal Hall Policy Advisors. He served as an assistant secretary for conference and intergovernmental relations and acting FHA commissioner during the Trump government (2017-2020). He is a lifelong Giants fan.
