On February 5, 2025, the United States Senate confirmed Scott Turner as the 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a bipartisan vote of 55-44. Turner, a former NFL player and housing development executive, was nominated by President Donald Trump for this role.
Turner's confirmation marks a significant milestone, as he is now at the helm of a roughly $68 billion agency that provides critical services such as rental assistance, affordable housing development, and enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. His role involves overseeing a department with a $70 billion budget and 8,000 employees, and he has outlined ambitious plans to address the nation's housing challenges[4][5].
During his confirmation hearing on January 16, 2025, Turner highlighted his experience in revitalizing opportunity zones and his commitment to making housing more affordable and accessible. Republicans praised his character and leadership, noting his journey from poverty to the NFL as a testament to his ability to lead HUD. Democrats, however, pressed him on potential policy continuities with Trump's first term, though they did not secure specific commitments on avoiding certain past policies[5].
As Secretary, Turner plans to conduct an expansive review of HUD to eliminate inefficiencies and streamline its single-family and multifamily lending programs. He aims to ease regulations to lower housing costs, utilize Opportunity Zones and other tax incentives for affordable housing, and prioritize economic revitalization and financing of commercial real estate. Turner also intends to work with state and local governments to reduce housing costs and will collaborate with the Treasury Department, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and Congress on potential reforms related to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac[2].
Turner's vision includes restoring HUD to its core mission of supporting strong and sustainable communities and providing quality, affordable homes. He emphasized the importance of reducing burdensome regulations to make homeownership easier and unleashing prosperity in communities across the country. His approach is centered on increasing self-sufficiency and empowering Americans to climb the economic ladder[1].
Senators from both parties have expressed their support for Turner's confirmation. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) praised Turner's ability to create access to quality, affordable housing and reverse decades of failed housing policies. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) highlighted the need to address the affordable housing crisis and expressed confidence in Turner's ability to turn this situation around under President Trump's leadership[4].
Turner's background is diverse and extensive, including his role as the leader of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), where he drove the Opportunity Zones Initiative. He also served as an Associate Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Founder and CEO of the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council, and a housing development executive at JPI. Additionally, Turner represented the 33rd District in the Texas State Legislature and played nine seasons in the NFL[4].
As he begins his tenure, Turner is expected to play a crucial role in transforming the country's most distressed communities and addressing the nationwide housing crisis. His leadership and experience are seen as key factors in achieving these goals and in working towards a future where housing is more accessible and affordable for all Americans.
