Scott Turner, a former Texas lawmaker and member of Donald Trump’s first administration, has been confirmed as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Senate voted 55-44 on his confirmation.
Turner will lead HUD at a time when housing affordability has emerged as a leading issue in communities across the country and when the White House is looking to reshape federal spending.
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 seek to slash the agency’s budget.
“As a country, we’re not building enough housing,” Turner said at his Jan.16 confirmation hearing. “We need millions more homes of all kinds—multifamily, single-family, duplexes, condos, manufactured housing. You name it. We need housing in our country for individuals and families to have a roof over their heads and to call home.”
He also said “HUD, if you will, is failing at its most basic mission.”
Turner, 52, served two terms as a Texas state representative from 2013 to 2017. He played nine seasons in the National Football League with the Washington Commanders, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos.
He will be the second pro football player to lead the agency. Former Congressman Jack Kemp, who played quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills, served as secretary under George H.W. Bush.
During Trump’s first term, Turner led the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, which was formed to better coordinate federal resources in Opportunity Zones and distressed communities.
More recently, he has been chief visionary officer at JPI, a leading Texas-based multifamily housing developer. He also chairs the Center for Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank that features former Trump administration staffers.
Turner was endorsed by Ben Carson, HUD secretary during the first Trump administration when major program cuts were sought. Carson also wrote the HUD chapter in the Project 2025 plan.
Representatives from several housing organizations congratulated Turner on his confirmation.
“During such a critical time for our nation—one that demands innovative and bipartisan action on housing policy—Secretary Turner’s expansive background in rental housing, community development and economic revitalization makes him the right leader at the right time. Our organizations look forward to working alongside Secretary Turner to address our country’s longstanding housing supply shortage and ultimately increase housing affordability and availability for all Americans,” said Bob Pinnegar, president and CEO of the National Apartment Association, and Sharon Wilson Géno, president of the National Multifamily Housing Council, in a joint statement.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) applauded the confirmation.
“With the nation confronting a shortfall of roughly 1.5 million housing units and facing a housing affordability crisis, Secretary Turner understands the urgent need to boost housing production to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing opportunities for all Americans,” said Carl Harris, NAHB chairman and a custom home builder from Wichita, Kansas. “NAHB looks forward to working with Secretary Turner and his new team to eliminate excessive regulations that are raising housing costs, ensure stable and liquid markets for single-family and multifamily housing, and promote policies that will help keep the housing industry and economy moving forward.”
David M. Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference, also issued a statement.
"Turner has a long-standing dedication to community development and has been a strong advocate for investing in underserved communities," he said. "We look forward to working with him to modernize and simplify HUD's regulations to make it easier to use HUD programs. We are eager to collaborate on initiatives that support the construction of affordable housing, particularly for first-time and first-generation home buyers, as well as addressing the insurance crisis.”
