HUD Preparing to Gut Half Its Workforce

The axe President Donald Trump is taking to the federal government’s workforce is about to be swung at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The nation’s foremost housing department is set to cut its workforce in half, the agency’s union president told Bloomberg Law. The department employs roughly 9,600 people, according to its website.

Those who are likely to be impacted include workers in civil rights enforcement, housing market data compilation and the office that pays to rebuild communities after disasters strike. The Federal Housing Administration is not expected to be affected by the layoffs.

HUD did not respond to Bloomberg Law’s request for comment.

AFGE National Council 222 president Antonio Gaines disclosed the looming cuts days after Trump directed agency heads to prepare to “initiate large-scale reductions in force.” The president is targeting those whose functions are “not mandated by statute,” taking specific aim at diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Agencies across the federal government are being gutted by Trump’s mandates. The U.S. Forest Service is expected to terminate 3,400 employees, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to lay off the vast majority of its workers.

It’s part of an intense downsizing push by Trump and his top lieutenant, Elon Musk, who is weaponizing the government’s real estate holdings as one means of forcing federal workers out of their roles.

A week ago, the Senate confirmed the appointment of former NFL player Scott Turner to serve as HUD secretary, a vote that largely fell along party lines. During his confirmation hearing, Turner talked about the need to build more homes of every type across the country.

HUD is tasked with enforcing federal housing laws. Its budget mostly goes towards housing assistance for low-income families, elderly and disabled people. The agency also allocates funds for community development and homelessness programs.

Trump’s budget requests could cut 15 to 18 percent of HUD’s funding relative to the previous year’s final allocations.

— Holden Walter-Warner