The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appears to be joining the roster of government agencies facing cuts.
Antonio Gaines, president of AFGE National Council 222, said the agency plans to “discharge 50% of its workforce,” meaning its 9,600 employees, as reported by Bloomberg Law.
The cuts will be focused on areas such as civil rights laws, data compilation about the housing market and paying to rebuild communities after disasters. Gaines noted that the Federal Housing Administration—which provides mortgage insurance on loans—will not be included in the cuts.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—led by Elon Musk—has been leading the charge on downsizing and cutting costs across government agencies, ostensibly to decrease waste and fraud. HUD officials have been gearing up for cuts since Tuesday after receiving several communications from the Trump Administration, specifically from DOGE.
A senior DOGE advisor requested HUD “justify hundreds of contracts across the agency” on Tuesday, as reported by NPR. An email from the administration reportedly asked for a spreadsheet to be filled out detailing whether a contract was “critical,” whether it had a DEI component and if the contractor was competent. The email also requested names be listed as “contract champion(s) within the bureau who will personally vouch for the answers.”
The Tuesday communication also included direction from President Trump to HUD officials to “undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force” that focus on firing workers who “perform functions not mandated by statute,” including “diversity, equity and inclusion programs.”
This news follows the recent confirmation of Scott Turner, Trump’s pick for HUD Secretary.
Turner previously served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council from 2019 to 2021 during the first Trump administration.
Turner has pledged to “take inventory” of HUD’s existing policy and work to adjust the department’s strategy from there. In his confirmation hearing, he stated his top priorities are “regulatory reform” and “getting our fiscal house in order” by bringing down inflation, interest rates and building material costs.
