Scott Turner, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was confirmed to the role in a 55-44 vote on Feb. 5.
Previously, Turner was a Texas state representative and White House senior aide. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017 and as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, under Trump, from 2019 until early 2021.
He’s also a former NFL player, having played on the Washington Redskins, the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos across nine seasons. Turner retired from the sport in 2004.
Interestingly, Turner is the second former NFL player — and San Diego Charger — to ascend to the role of HUD secretary. Football star-turned-career-politician Jack Kemp led the department under former President George W. Bush.
Ben Carson oversaw HUD during Trump’s first term, and he was the only Black member of the president’s cabinet. At this point, the same is true of Turner.
HUD plans and housing construction
Now, attention turns to what Turner will do in the role. Last week, following a blanket freeze on federal grants, Trump called for a review of 100 HUD programs, including Section 8 housing vouchers. Soon after, though, the White House released a follow-up memo which stated that funding related to rental assistance and “similar programs” would not pause.
Scott takes over HUD at a confounding time for construction as well. Trump’s plans for mass deportation, a hallmark of his campaign platform, threaten to strip 1.5 million workers from the homebuilding workforce. Then Trump proposed a 25% tariff on Canadian goods — and homebuilders braced themselves.
As the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) laid out in a statement, the 25% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber products would be in addition to current 14.5% duty rate, meaning Canadian lumber tariffs would increase to nearly 40%.
When news came on Feb. 3 that those tariffs would be delayed, NAHB Chairman Cal Harris commended the decision.
Turner, too, expressed a desire to build more homes during his nomination hearing. “As a country, we are not building enough homes. We need millions of homes, all kinds of homes — multifamily, single family, duplex, condo, manufacturing housing, you name it — we need housing in our country for individuals and families to have a roof over their head and to call home,” he told the Senate on Jan. 16.
In the end, all Republicans voted to back Turner, as well as two Democrats: Sens. Peter Welch of Vermont and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.