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Alameda County committee warned of possible deep HUD staffing cuts as budget fight looms
Summary
County committee heard that reports suggest the federal administration may cut roughly half of HUD's workforce and that the broader congressional budget fight could push Medicaid cuts that would affect local services.
Alameda County's Personnel, Administration and Legislation Committee was told Feb. 24 that the Trump administration may be planning deep staffing cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a move local analysts warned could jeopardize federal programs that counties rely on.
John Assini, a consultant with CJ Lake, said media reports and Democratic senators indicated the administration is considering cutting HUD's workforce by about 50 percent — roughly 4,300 positions overall — with some offices facing larger reductions. "The administration is planning to cut the Department of Housing and Urban Development's workforce by about 50%," he said, and that one office, Community Planning and Development, could see reductions in the range of 84 percent. Assini cautioned the reports were not official but deserved monitoring.
The committee also received a broader federal update from Emily Da Silva, who said both chambers are in session and that the Senate recently passed a budget resolution that allowed an extended amendment process. Da Silva said the House is pursuing a single, large budget approach that would require committees to identify roughly $800 billion in cuts; she said many observers fear Medicaid could be a target of those cuts as lawmakers try to find offsets to extend tax provisions.
Why it matters: HUD's Community Planning and Development office helps administer Community Development Block Grants, Meals on Wheels contracts and other locally delivered programs. County staff warned that substantial reductions in HUD staffing or funding could slow grant administration and hinder access to earmarked federal dollars.
Assini also summarized recent executive orders the administration issued, including a sanctuary-city related order that would restrict certain uses of federal funds and a directive for agencies to review regulations aligned with the administration's objectives. He noted that two Massachusetts cities — Chelsea and Somerville — filed a federal lawsuit challenging the sanctuary-city order and that legal challenges are likely to determine how the order is implemented.
Committee members pressed for clarity on how the Senate and House budgets differ on Medicaid protections. Da Silva said the Senate's first resolution is narrower and focused on border enforcement, energy and defense while a second resolution or the House approach could raise the prospect of cuts that would affect Medicaid financing.
No formal action was taken. Staff said they would continue to monitor congressional activity and legal developments.
The committee adjourned after identifying no public commenters for the items discussed.
