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 Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Cornyn said Turner had experience with the Opportunity Zones program and private investment in distressed areas.

Scott Turner, introduced by Cornyn and formally sworn before the committee, said HUD’s mission is “to create strong and sustainable communities and support quality affordable housing serving the most vulnerable of our nation.” Turner described his personal experience growing up in Texas, his time in the Texas legislature and his work in the White House on Opportunity Zones.

What Turner said he would prioritize

Turner repeatedly committed to taking an inventory of HUD programs and ‘‘maximize the budget’’ the agency receives, saying he would examine which programs ‘‘are helping the mission of HUD or are not’’ and then report back to the committee. He told senators he would pursue regulatory reforms at the federal level and encourage state and local governments to reduce permitting and zoning barriers that slow housing production.

On Opportunity Zones — a program Turner helped administer — he called the initiative ‘‘very impactful’’ and said it should be refined to accelerate investment in affordable housing and operating businesses.

Areas of contention and follow‑up questions

Several senators pressed Turner for clear yes-or-no commitments on adding federal money to housing programs. Ranking Member Sen. Elizabeth Warren said the American people need ‘‘to hear your plans for building the millions of homes that America needs’’ and asked whether Turner supported additional federal investment in programs that lower the cost of building affordable housing. Turner responded that he supports ‘‘maximizing the investment that we have’’ and reviewing existing programs, a formulation that several senators said left them wanting a firmer pledge.

Warren also asked about private equity and corporate landlords buying single-family homes; Turner said he would ‘‘dig into this more’’ and support transparency and accountability for large investors.

Homelessness and local partnerships

Turner acknowledged the committee’s concern about homelessness and repeatedly emphasized working with local governments, faith‑based groups and other community organizations. He cited the HUD point-in-time figure cited in the hearing — ‘‘770,000 Americans homeless on one night in January of 2024’’ — and said the federal government should be a partner but must engage proven local approaches.

Veterans, CDFIs and tribal housing

Senators asked Turner to support programs targeted at veterans and other high‑need groups. Turner committed to working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and with senators on bills aimed at veterans’ housing. He also agreed to look for ways to expand the role of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and to work with tribal leaders on Native American housing challenges, including issues tied to tribal trust land.

Regulatory standards, climate and faith‑based providers

Senators pressed Turner on multiple regulatory topics that affect construction costs: Davis‑Bacon rules, environmental review, Build America, Buy America and some climate standards recently added to HUD financing. Turner said he would ‘‘take a strong look’’ at any requirements that raise construction cost and would seek to remove burdens that impede affordable housing. He also said he supports protecting religious organizations’ freedom to offer services and prayer, and that HUD should not ‘‘hold grant applicants hostage’’ to political agendas.

Fair housing and appraisal bias

Sen. Raphael Warnock pressed Turner on enforcement of fair housing laws and appraisal bias that can depress property values in majority‑Black and majority‑Brown neighborhoods. Turner said he commits to upholding fair housing laws and to studying the appraisal‑bias issue further with senators who raised it.

Process and next steps

Chairman Scott set deadlines for post‑hearing questions: senators must submit written questions for the record by 12 p.m. on Jan. 17; Turner was asked to respond by Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. The committee did not vote during the hearing.

Ending

The hearing showcased broad agreement on the scale of the housing challenge and bipartisan interest in boosting supply, reducing regulatory barriers and improving disaster recovery and veterans’ housing. Senators repeatedly pressed for detailed, measurable plans and funding commitments; Turner said he would inventory HUD programs, look for efficiencies and return to the committee with specific recommendations if confirmed.