Senate confirms new leader for ‘failing’ HUD
Scott Turner said the nation needs "millions of homes, all kinds of homes' and expressed support for the 'opportunity zone' program from Trump’s first term.
Scott Turner, a former NFL player and "chief visionary officer" for a multifamily-focused development and construction company, was approved Feb. 5 by the Senate to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
He will be taking over the agency focused on housing access and affordability — a pain point for many Americans — as well as fighting homelessness. It has a $70 million budget and about 8,000 employees.
What Turner has to say about HUD: Turner told lawmakers that "HUD is failing at its most basic mission, and that has to come to an end."
Specifically, he said, the United States is "not building enough housing. We need millions of homes, all kinds of homes: multifamily, single-family, duplex, condos, manufactur[ed] housing, you name it."
When he was nominated last fall, Turner said in a statement that the role "represents a divine occasion to continue the work I am most passionate about — creating environments where Americans and their communities can — and will — thrive. I look forward to working with leaders across the nation — and beyond — to advance our shared goals to uplift America's communities."
What's next: Turner said he wanted to assess HUD's existing programs before laying out specific plans for the agency.
However, he did express interest in expanding an initiative that he worked on during President Trump's first term: The "Opportunity Zone" program. It provided tax benefits on investments made in low-income neighborhoods.
What NAR had to say: The National Association of Realtors said in a statement that it was eager to work with Turner to "expand home ownership in America and create strong, sustainable communities."
NAR also praised Turner's experience as a Texas state representative and as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, saying he "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."