U.S. Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge to step down
Fudge, a longtime advocate for affordable housing, announced she will leave her HUD post on March 22.
The Biden administration will be making its push for improved housing affordability without a key cabinet member.
Marcia Fudge announced she was retiring as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Her last day in the role will be March 22. Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman will serve as acting secretary, according to the White House.
One of the notable initiatives Fudge spearheaded during her tenure was a first-of-its-kind task force committed to tackling racial and ethnic bias in home valuations. In 2022, the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) group put together an action plan, praised by the National Association of Realtors, to establish new appraisal rules and empower consumers to take action if bias is suspected.
An August 2023 analysis of appraisal data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency found that since the formation of PAVE, the racial home appraisal gap had started to narrow.
FHFA Director Sandra L. Thompson lauded Fudge's work with PAVE and also called out Fudge's ability to lead the country through housing challenges, particularly during the Covid era, adding that "the impact of her work on the country's affordable and often most vulnerable housing cannot be overstated."
Policy timing: Fudge's retirement comes after last week's White House announcement outlining efforts to boost housing supply and improve affordability. The proposals, most of which need congressional approval, include a first-time buyer credit, a $10,000 starter-home credit for sellers and downpayment and construction grants.
Decades of public service: Fudge, 71, served as a U.S. Representative for Ohio's 11th District from 2008 to 2021 and was mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, for eight years — the first woman and first African American to hold the position.
"It's time to go home,'' Fudge said in an interview with USA Today. "I do believe strongly that I have done just about everything I could do at HUD for this administration as we go into this crazy, silly season of an election."
President Joe Biden said in a statement that Fudge has been a strong voice for expanding generational wealth through homeownership and lower costs for renters.
"From her time as a mayor, to her years as a fierce advocate in the U.S. House of Representatives, Marcia's vision, passion, and focus on increasing economic opportunity have been assets to our country," Biden said.