Senate Banking Committee reports Scott Turner nomination despite objections over missing FBI background check

The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on Oct. 12 voted 13–11 to report the nomination of Scott Turner to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the full Senate, despite objections from Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren that committee members had not received Turner’s FBI background check.

The committee also adopted its rules of procedure and the subcommittee membership and jurisdiction en bloc by voice vote at the start of the session. "If there is no further discussion, all in favor say aye," the chair said before those documents were adopted and ordered reported to the Senate floor.

During opening remarks on the nomination, the chair portrayed Turner as a candidate who can help increase housing supply and work with the White House on revitalization efforts. The chair moved "to favorably report the nomination of mister Scott to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development." The motion was seconded and brought to a roll-call vote after debate.

Warren said she supported many of the nominee’s stated policy goals but said the committee lacked a routine piece of vetting: Turner’s FBI background check. "Absent this background check, we simply do not have the information that is needed to go forward on this nominee. So I will be voting no and I hope that with future nominees you will adhere to committee precedent and the common sense practice and courtesy of ensuring that we have the full FBI background check for any nominee before we hold a committee vote," Warren said.

Senators who spoke in favor of moving the nomination emphasized the urgency of addressing the nation’s housing shortage. Senator John Kennedy urged colleagues to support the chair, saying, "I think we should back our chairman. Mr. Turner's record demonstrates that, he exercises power materially. He does not act on the basis of, appetite and ambition." Senator Thom Tillis said he was open to supporting Turner but noted uncertainty about committee procedures and the length of any delay, observing that "it is my understanding that the FBI has 14 days to do a background check."

After the debate, the clerk called the roll. The committee recorded 13 votes in favor and 11 opposed. The clerk announced, "The nomination of mister Scott Turner is hereby ordered reported favorably to the full senate." The transcript shows the roll-call sequence and the final tally of 13 in favor, 11 opposed.

The committee did not adopt a new standing rule requiring FBI background checks before committee votes, though several senators expressed willingness to consider formalizing procedures for future nominations. Several speakers urged that if members who supported the nomination did not receive the background report before the Senate floor vote, they reserve the option to change their vote on the Senate floor.

The nomination will now move to the full Senate for consideration.