Secretary Scott Turner, the newly confirmed 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has made several significant announcements and decisions in the last few days that are reshaping the department's policies and priorities.
Confirmed by the United States Senate with a bipartisan vote of 55-44, Secretary Turner was sworn in by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. In his initial statements, Turner emphasized his commitment to restoring HUD to its core mission of supporting strong and sustainable communities and providing quality, affordable homes, particularly for the nation's most vulnerable populations. He also highlighted the need to reduce burdensome regulations to make homeownership easier and to unleash prosperity in communities across the country[1].
One of the most notable actions taken by Secretary Turner is the termination of the Biden-era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. Announced on February 27, 2025, this decision aims to cut costly red tape imposed on localities and return decision-making power to local and state governments. The AFFH rule, introduced in 2021, had been criticized for its onerous paperwork and budgetary demands on localities, which were seen as restrictive and costly. By terminating this rule, localities will no longer be required to complete extensive paperwork, allowing them to allocate their resources more efficiently and make decisions on zoning, home building, and transportation without federal interference[2][5].
Secretary Turner argued that local and state governments are better equipped to understand the needs of their communities than federal bureaucrats. This move is expected to restore trust in local communities and property owners, while protecting the integrity of America's suburbs and neighborhoods. The termination of the AFFH rule is also seen as a way to advance market-driven development and allow American neighborhoods to flourish[5].
In addition to this policy change, Secretary Turner has also taken steps to revamp the department's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. On February 20, 2025, it was announced that HUD would revoke $4 million worth of DEI-focused contracts. Turner stated that DEI initiatives are no longer a priority at HUD, emphasizing that the department's focus should be on core housing and community development issues rather than what he termed as non-essential programs[3].
These recent actions reflect Secretary Turner's commitment to reducing federal regulatory burdens and empowering local communities to make their own decisions on housing and urban development. As HUD moves forward under his leadership, it is clear that there will be a significant shift towards more localized control and a focus on affordable housing and community development without the constraints of extensive federal regulations.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
