HUD Secretary Scott Turner recently shared details of his housing agenda in an interview with Punchbowl News. His comments focus on policy shifts, regulatory changes, and funding reforms intended to reshape how the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) operates.
Opportunity Zones and ROAD to Housing Act
Secretary Turner expressed strong support for expanding Opportunity Zones, a program he previously helped implement during the first Trump administration.
Turner is collaborating with Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), now chair of the Senate Banking Committee, on Scott’s ROAD to Housing Act. This legislation is designed to continue the Opportunity Zones program and encourage greater investment in underdeveloped areas.
“I’m very excited about that work with Tim Scott and his ROAD to Housing Act… to unleash the potential in our country,” Turner said.
While the long-term impact of Opportunity Zones is still under review, Turner and Scott remain committed to scaling the program.
Turner on Affordable Housing and Federal Land
Turner noted that HUD is exploring ways to use federal land for affordable housing development, although the strategy is still taking shape.
He also emphasized that public housing should serve as a transitional support:
“Public housing is not supposed to be permanent… It was never meant to be a hammock.”
HUD Secretary Scott Turner Housing Agenda Includes Deregulation
Turner stated that HUD is undergoing a full program inventory to identify areas where federal housing policy could be streamlined. He cited a broader goal of reducing regulatory burden:
“The federal government… has focused on getting bigger, instead of serving the American people.”
One specific reform Turner supports is a change to HUD’s permanent chassis requirement for manufactured housing. This requirement, written into statute, mandates a steel frame run through the unit. Developers argue that the rule limits housing design and innovation.
“We need to work with Congress to address the permanent chassis requirement,” Turner said.
HUD Funding Approach and Program Goals
Turner stated that HUD’s mission still focuses on serving the most vulnerable populations, but he is not seeking to expand federal housing subsidies.
“We don’t want to grow HUD programs… We want to work to get people off of government subsidy.”
He acknowledged that HUD provides essential services through rental assistance and project-based vouchers but views them as short-term solutions rather than permanent support.
Work requirements were mentioned as one potential strategy to increase self-sufficiency among HUD program participants.
Turner also highlighted the need to review and update funding allocation formulas, specifically referencing the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
“A lot of the formulas for funding have been on autopilot,” he said. “We need to evaluate each formula so that we don’t have to rewrite the rules every time a disaster hits.”
Clarification on Blockchain and Digital Assets
Turner addressed a recent ProPublica report suggesting HUD may explore blockchain experiments in housing programs. He clarified:
“There’s no merit to it.”
Summary of HUD Secretary Scott Turner’s Housing Agenda
In summary, Secretary Turner’s key priorities include:
- Expanding Opportunity Zones through the ROAD to Housing Act
- Conducting a full program inventory at HUD
- Advocating for deregulation and review of outdated requirements
- Revising funding formulas for programs like CDBG
- Promoting a “trampoline, not hammock” philosophy for housing assistance
- Exploring work requirements to support program exits
Navigate will continue tracking updates to HUD policy that affect affordable housing development, funding access, and regulatory compliance.
