Scott Turner Confirmed As HUD Secretary
Former NFL player Scott Turner has been confirmed as the 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
He was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas on Wednesday.
“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,” Turner said in a statement.
“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… Housing goes beyond the four walls of a home; it helps build thriving communities and is the foundation of the American Dream.”
Turner has been critical of HUD, saying the department was “failing at its most basic mission” in his confirmation hearing.
Turner played professional football for nearly a decade before serving in the Texas Legislature from 2013 to 2017.
During Trump’s first term, he served as director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.
He also previously served as chief visionary officer for multifamily housing developer JPI and chief inspiration officer at Systemware Inc.
Some industry pros, particularly in the multifamily sphere, have applauded the appointment.
“With so much focus today on the need to build more housing of all types (a theme Scott emphasized repeatedly in his confirmation hearing), I’d imagine his real-world experience trying to get housing approved and built will give Scott a valuable and unique perspective that his predecessors lacked,” Jay Parsons, head of investment strategy at Texas-based Madera Residential, wrote in a LinkedIn post.
“Secretary Turner’s expansive background in rental housing, community development, and economic revitalization makes him the right leader for HUD at the right time,” the presidents of the National Multifamily Housing Council and National Apartment Association wrote.
Other industry experts have been more cautious in their support.
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment noted alongside their congratulations that they will work to ensure “housing and community development agencies nationwide receive their federally appropriated funds without disruption.”
MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit released a short statement acknowledging the 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,” it reads.