Ranking Member Warren Presses HUD Secretary Nominee Scott Turner on Plans to Lead Agency, Lower Housing Costs for Families Ahead of Hearing
Warren becomes senior Democrat on Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
With just days until confirmation hearing, little is known about Turner’s record and views on housing and community development
“The agency needs and deserves a strong, capable leader who believes in its mission and has the interest and ability to carry out that mission.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, wrote to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary-Designate Scott Turner ahead of his confirmation hearing, pressing him on his plan to effectively lead the agency and deliver for American families. Senator Warren posed 75 questions across the 13-page letter, on policy areas ranging from housing supply to homelessness to natural disasters.
“HUD’s housing and development programs have a profound impact on the lives of millions of Americans, especially in the midst of our housing affordability crisis. The agency needs and deserves a strong, capable leader who believes in its mission and has the interest and ability to carry out that mission,” wrote Senator Warren.
Senator Warren noted that Mr. Turner has described former HUD Secretary Ben Carson—who authored the housing agenda for the extreme Project 2025 playbook—as a “mentor,” but has otherwise failed to offer substantive plans to further HUD’s mission of “creat(ing) strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.” With just days until his confirmation hearing, little is known about Turner’s record and views on housing and community development.
“At a time when America is experiencing a full-blown housing crisis, the agency requires a leader who is serious about expanding the housing supply, taking on predatory landlords and real estate corporations, and lowering costs for families,” wrote Senator Warren.
In order to understand Turner’s positions on critical issues, Senator Warren posed 75 questions across the following topic areas: housing supply; support for renters; affordable homeownership; addressing homelessness; fair housing; addressing housing market problems caused by institutional investors, predatory corporate landlords, and foreign actors; natural disasters and climate resilience; and HUD staffing, resources, and management.
“I ask that you come to your hearing prepared to provide answers to my questions so that the Senate—and the American people—can understand how you plan to lead this agency and lower housing costs for families,” wrote Senator Warren ahead of Thursday’s hearing.
Senator Warren has long worked to tackle the U.S. housing crisis, including with the reintroduction of her landmark bill, the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, which would build or rehabilitate nearly 3 million housing units over the next decade and bring down rents for lower-income and middle-class families by 10%.
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