The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, will now face a federal inquiry into their attempts to slash funds earmarked for the enforcement of fair housing laws.
The investigation, announced in a letter from the Government Accountability Office, which serves as an independent watchdog agency for the federal government, is yet another roadblock in both HUD and DOGE’s attempt to drastically cut the nation’s fair housing funds.
Last month, five Democratic senators petitioned the G.A.O. to look into the legality of the Trump administration’s far-reaching cuts to groups and organizations across the country that enforce the Fair Housing Act, the landmark 1968 law that prohibits discrimination in real estate.
Their request came after at least 66 local fair housing groups — grass-roots organizations that investigate discrimination complaints, provide education and outreach and lobby for policy changes to promote equal access to housing — faced the sudden rescission of $30 million in grants. Local fair housing organizations generally have annual budgets of less than $1 million, and in many cases the grants made up the bulk of their funding.
Four of the groups successfully sued to block the administration from withholding their funds. Two Democratic leaders, Representative Maxine Waters of California and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, also delivered a letter to HUD secretary Scott Turner that said cutbacks to fair housing initiatives will “embolden housing discrimination” and put “people’s lives at risk.”
The next day, Senator Warren was also a signatory on the petition to the G.A.O., along with four other Democrats, Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota; Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey; Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Senator Alex Padilla of California.
“Despite HUD’s key role in enforcing the Fair Housing Act,” they wrote, “the Trump Administration has taken steps to reduce the agency’s ability to fulfill this key function.” The letter noted that in addition to trying to cancel key grants, Mr. Turner has also forecast that he will slash staff by 50 percent at the agency and by 77 percent at its Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, which enforces the Fair Housing Act at the federal level.
In a letter sent Friday in response, A. Nicole Clowers, managing director of congressional relations for the G.A.O., said the request for an investigation into the funding cuts was accepted, and her office would initiate it. The New York Times obtained a copy of the letter.
Senator Warren said that she was “pleased” that the G.A.O. was launching an inquiry, and referred to President Trump and Elon Musk as “co-presidents.” Their cuts to fair housing enforcement, she said in her statement, were dangerous and “would harm families across the country who have experienced housing discrimination.”
Representatives from the White House and HUD did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the investigation.
Debra Kamin reports on real estate, covering what it means to buy, sell and own a home in America today. More about Debra Kamin
The post Watchdog Agency to Investigate Attempted Cuts to Fair Housing Groups appeared first on New York Times.
