Senate Banking Committee Questions Scott Turner on How He Would Tackle Housing Crisis as HUD Nominee

Scott Turner, nominee to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, told the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs at a confirmation hearing that he would prioritize regulatory reform, push to maximize existing HUD funding and work closely with local communities and private partners to address the nation’s housing shortage.

The hearing brought repeated requests from Democrats and Republicans for concrete plans to reduce housing costs, expand supply and cut homelessness. Senators raised questions about federal programs including HOME, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Housing Choice Voucher program, along with the effectiveness of Opportunity Zones and federal rules that affect construction costs and disaster recovery.

Why it matters: HUD sets and enforces federal housing policy for millions of renters, homeowners and communities. The committee pressed Turner — a former Texas state legislator, executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council and former NFL player — for specifics on how he would use the agency’s tools to build housing, support low-income households and carry out disaster recovery.

Turner’s background and opening testimony

Sen. Tim Scott, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, opened the hearing and framed the committee’s dual focus on banking and housing. John Cornyn introduced Turner and described him as a Texas public servant and former executive of the…