NFL player seeks to assist Americans in reducing dependence on government aid

During his confirmation hearing to become the next Housing and Urban Development (HUD) secretary, Scott Turner, a former NFL player turned Texas state legislator, stated that his objective is to assist individuals in breaking free from government aid and achieving greater self-sufficiency.

If confirmed, my priority as a witness before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs would be to advance and expand policies championed by the incoming Trump administration.

"As HUD secretary, Turner's goal is to continue and expand the successful policies of the first Trump administration, while helping people become self-sufficient and achieve the American dream."

As executive director of the Trump administration's Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Turner established "Opportunity Zones," an economic revitalization plan aimed at helping low-income, minority communities. Turner hopes to expand this plan and cut red tape to lower the cost of housing, while engaging with state, local, and private partners.

Turner stated that equity in the home should be accessible to homeowners as it is typically through home ownership that families start to accumulate wealth.

But Democrats at the hearing questioned whether Turner could make housing more affordable.

During the hearing, Turner expressed his support for work requirements for Section 8 housing assistance recipients, but was cut off by a senator and unable to provide further explanation.

Turner did not provide a definitive answer on whether he would cut funding from specific programs. However, he pledged to "maximize" the funding available at HUD and collaborate with committee members to address funding concerns for certain programs.

According to Turner, there are numerous reasons for the high cost of housing today, and he believes that before we can advocate for additional federal investment to make housing more affordable, we must first address our own financial situation.

"Although I am eager to examine the HOME Program and other programs, HUD's budget of nearly $70 billion is insufficient to meet the need we are supposed to fulfill."

In addition to addressing Democrats' concerns, Turner plans to conduct a review of current programs to evaluate their effectiveness and identify any regulatory barriers impacting affordable housing supply.

Engaging with state and local officials will be crucial for this work, as they are intimately familiar with the housing needs and obstacles specific to their communities, according to Turner.

Turner stated that he intends to explore methods for decreasing construction expenses and collaborating with private sector participants in the housing market.

Democrats inquired about funding HUD programs and whether Turner would address alleged racial bias in the housing appraisal industry and "price gouging" from real estate investors.

Although Turner stated that he would investigate the issue with Democrats and make a decision based on his findings, he also criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures that he claimed are integrated into HUD.

Although the Biden administration received numerous subsidies and spent trillions of dollars, little positive change has occurred, according to Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who made this statement during his opening remarks on Thursday.

"Today, new leadership brings hope, opportunity, and enthusiasm back to the American people."