Scott Turner has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Secretary Turner was confirmed by a bipartisan vote of 55-44.
“I am honored and humbled to serve the American people and the Trump Administration as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,” Turner says in a statement. “On President Trump’s first day in office, he signed an executive order to lower the cost of housing and expand housing supply. As Secretary, I will lead the department in furthering these priorities.”
“The path ahead of us presents an opportunity to restore HUD to its core mission of supporting strong and sustainable communities and quality, affordable homes — serving our nation’s most vulnerable,” Turner adds. “We must reduce burdensome regulations to make homeownership easier while unleashing prosperity that has been stifled in communities across the country for far too long. Housing goes beyond the four walls of a home; it helps build thriving communities and is the foundation of the American Dream.”
Turner previously led the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), driving the Opportunity Zones Initiative.
In a statement, Bob Broeksmit, CMB, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, congratulated Turner on his confirmation.
“We will continue to advocate for policies and solutions that improve housing supply and affordability and stand ready to work with leadership and staff at HUD, the Federal Housing Administration, and Ginnie Mae as they carry out their important roles in supporting single-family and multifamily housing markets while protecting taxpayers,” Broeksmit says.
In a separate statement, Shannon McGahn, chief advocacy officer for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says “HUD programs play a critical role in ensuring that all Americans have access to a safe, decent, and affordable home. As a former member of the Texas House of Representatives and the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Scott Turner understands the key role that access to housing and homeownership plays in the health of individuals and communities and is well-positioned to respond to the needs of all HUD stakeholders.”
“His work on the Opportunity Zone Program especially illustrates his commitment to finding economic opportunities for low-income communities to assist the individuals that live within them,” McGahn says. “NAR is eager to work with Turner to further HUD’s mission to expand homeownership in America and create strong, sustainable communities. At a time when a national housing inventory shortage has contributed to an affordability crisis, HUD programs are more important than ever in helping Americans overcome barriers to affordable rental housing, sustainable homeownership, and the opportunity to create generational wealth.”
In addition, Scott Olson, executive director of the Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA), expressed his group’s support of Turner’s confirmation.
“The CHLA congratulates and fully supports HUD Secretary Scott Turner in his new role,” Olson says in a statement. “We are encouraged by his commitment to addressing broken housing policies and expanding sustainable homeownership opportunities. His focus on helping Americans achieve self-sufficiency and the American dream aligns with our mission to ensure a strong, accessible, and responsible mortgage market. We look forward to working with Secretary Turner and HUD to promote policies that strengthen homeownership and expand housing opportunities for all.”