HUD Secretary-Designate Fudge Discusses Priorities

Although the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee advanced the nomination of HUD Secretary-designate Marcia Fudge (D-OH) to the full Senate on a 17-7 bipartisan vote, the confirmation vote has not been scheduled yet because the committee vote came five days before the Senate began the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

In her testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, she said, “My first priority as secretary would be to alleviate that crisis and get people the support they need to come back from the edge. We need to expand resources for HUD's programs to people who are eligible. Today, according to a 2017 study, only 1 out of 5 eligible households receive housing assistance."

Fudge also said the $25 billion that Congress has provided in rental assistance and the government’s extension of the eviction moratorium are not enough when tens of millions of Americans are behind on rent, according to Fudge, and almost 3 million homeowners are in forbearance, and another 800,000 borrowers are delinquent.

She also affirmed President Biden's commitments on improving the quality, safety, and accessibility of affordable housing and building 1.5 million new affordable homes.