Scott Turner, a former Texas lawmaker and NFL player, is Donald Trump’s choice to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
During Trump’s first term, Turner led the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, which aimed to enhance the coordination of federal economic development resources in Opportunity Zones and other distressed communities.
Turner, 52, has been chief visionary officer at JPI, a leading Texas-based multifamily housing developer, since 2023. He also chairs the Center for Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank that features former Trump administration staffers.
His pick comes after speculation that former HUD secretary Ben Carson and Bill Pulte, CEO of Pulte Capital, were candidates to be the nation’s top housing official.
If confirmed, Turner would take over HUD at a time when housing affordability has emerged as a leading issue in communities across the country.
During its first term, the Trump administration sought to severely cut the HUD budget, but those proposals were largely blocked by Congress. There’s concern that the new administration will again try to slash the agency’s budget.
Read More
