Senate panel advances Turner for HUD on party-line vote

The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11, along party lines, on Thursday to advance Scott Turner’s nomination to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with Democrats voting no over concerns about Turner’s unfinished FBI background check.

If confirmed by the full Senate, the NFL veteran and former developer would run a department with a $70 billion budget and roughly 8,000 employees at a time when housing has risen to the forefront politically after costs soared in the wake of the pandemic.

Turner told the committee during his confirmation hearing last week that “HUD is failing at its most basic mission,” pointing to the high cost of housing and a recent surge in homelessness. But he offered few specifics on how he would turn things around, saying he wanted first to take stock of which programs are working and which aren’t.

The vote proceeded despite a plea from committee Democrats to delay it until the results of Turner’s FBI background check were reported to the committee.

“It would be irresponsible for the Committee to vote on a Cabinet nominee without this background check,” the Democratic members wrote in a letter to Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) on Thursday. “And it would not be consistent with Committee precedent.”

Scott said before the vote that Turner “is the solution we have been looking for to usher in the golden era of homeownership” and responded that the Banking Committee does not require an FBI background check.

If confirmed, Turner is expected to seek to slash the department’s funding and overhaul programs related to housing vouchers and homelessness. His goal would be to ask, "Is this helping the mission of HUD?” Turner said. “Is it helping to build more affordable housing?”

Housing emerged as a key issue in the 2024 campaign, with both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris talking about it on the trail, in a nod to growing voter frustration with the high cost of living.

At the root of the affordability crisis is a historic shortage of housing supply – estimated to run to millions of units – to meet demand after construction slowed in the wake of the 2008 market meltdown.

Some of the promises Trump made — lowering mortgage rates or kicking out illegal immigrants to limit housing demand — fall outside of HUD’s purview. But he also called for easing regulations to spur construction of additional homes.

Washington has struggled to convince state and municipal governments to overhaul land use policies, restrictive zoning and other barriers to construction. Regulations imposed at all levels of government account for about 25 percent of the cost of building a single-family home and more than 30 percent of the cost of a typical multifamily development, according to the National Association of Homebuilders.

Turner embraced a carrots-over-sticks approach in his hearing, saying he would “encourage localities to look at their zoning laws to make it easier and more flexible to build.”

“We can encourage them to look at those zoning laws,” he said. “We encourage that, but I don't believe that we need to force or mandate it.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed him on whether he would support additional federal investments in programs to boost affordable housing.

“There are many factors to why housing is so expensive now, and I believe first we have to get our fiscal house in order,” he said. “What I do support is maximizing the budget that we do have…and making sure that the programs that we do have are meeting the intended need and serving those they are intended to serve.”

The cost of shelter – which accounts for one-third of the Consumer Price Index – proved to be one of the stickiest parts of the inflation crisis.

Home prices rose 50 percent in just three years amid a homebuying frenzy touched off by the pandemic. Higher interest rates compounded the pain, as monthly mortgage payments doubled. And while rents have come down since their peak, the national median rent is still 20 percent higher than it was four years ago, according to Apartment List’s most recent national rent report.

Voters took note. Nearly one in three renters said housing affordability was a top-three issue heading into the November election, according to a survey Redfin released in October. The cost of housing came in as the fourth most important issue – after the economy, inflation and health care – overall in a list of 14 issues in the poll, which surveyed 894 renters and 805 homeowners in September.

Turner would be returning to the Trump fold if confirmed; he previously served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in 2019. In that role, he focused on Opportunity Zones, a program established in the 2017 tax law to encourage investment in disadvantaged areas.

Topics

Hegseth advances to final Senate vote despite misconduct allegations

Politico - 3d
Senate tees up final vote on Bessent nomination to lead Treasury

The Senate on Saturday voted to advance Scott Bessent’s nomination to become the next secretary of the Treasury, putting him in line to be confirmed on Monday. Senators voted 67-23 to tee up final ...
The Hill - 1d
Who Are the Three Republican Senators Who Voted Against Pete Hegseth?

Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell voted against confirming Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary. To Capitol insiders, their decisions weren’t surprising.
The New York Times - 1d
Senate confirms Pete Hegseth as defense secretary; Vance casts tiebreaking vote

Pete Hegseth's nomination once appeared on shaky ground amid allegations that included sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement.
CBS News - 1d
Pete Hegseth confirmed as next defense secretary in extremely narrow Senate vote

The Senate, in an extremely narrow vote, confirmed Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's embattled pick to serve as secretary of defense.
ABC News - 2d
Evening Report — Senate set to hold confirmation vote on third Trump Cabinet pick

✂️ Plus: FEMA in jeopardy, and Fauci loses security detail {beacon} Evening Report TRUMP FIRST 100 DAYS © The Hill, Greg Nash Hegseth set for Senate confirmation vote PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SENATE ...
The Hill - 2d
Will Hegseth survive full Senate vote for confirmation?

A full Senate vote on Pete Hegseth's confirmation to be President Trump's secretary of defense is expected. Two Republicans have already said they plan to vote "no." CBS News Caitlin Huey-Burns ...
CBS News - 2d
Senate to vote on Pete Hegseth confirmation for secretary of defense

Former Fox News host accused of sexual assault, financial mismanagement and excessive alcohol use appears to have enough Republican votes. US politics – live updates The Senate will vote on ...
The Guardian - 2d
Senate set to hold final vote on Hegseth's confirmation as defense secretary

The Senate is set to hold its final confirmation vote Friday on President Trump's embattled pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth. CBS News political reporter Taurean Small has more.
CBS News - 2d
Senate to vote on Hegseth confirmation as Democrats continue to raise concerns

Pete Hegseth's Senate confirmation vote to be defense secretary is expected to take place Friday night.
CBS News - 2d
Pete Hegseth clears Senate test vote despite opposition from 2 Republicans

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday to advance his nomination.
ABC News - 2d
Senate Advances Pete Hegseth’s Nomination as Defense Secretary to Final Vote

All but two Republicans voted to advance Pete Hegseth’s nomination as secretary of defense to a final vote, as Democrats raced to bolster fresh allegations about his personal conduct.
The New York Times - 3d
Senate votes to advance Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary despite some Republican opposition – live

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins have come out in opposition to the former Fox host running the Pentagon. Key Republican senators to vote against Hegseth for US defense secretary ...
The Guardian - 3d
Key Republican senators to vote against Pete Hegseth for US defense secretary

Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins say they cannot support nominee, raising fresh doubts about confirmation chances. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced that they ...
The Guardian - 3d
Live updates: Court blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order; Senate advances Hegseth's nomination

President Trump's sweeping agenda took its first hit Thursday, when a federal judge put a temporary hold on his birthright citizenship executive order. Senate leaders are pushing ahead with a ...
The Hill - 3d
Senate advances Hegseth nomination; Collins, Murkowski vote 'no'

The Senate voted largely along party lines Thursday to advance Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of Defense, brushing aside a litany of misconduct allegations and the ...
The Hill - 3d
Senate panel sets hearing on Tulsi Gabbard nomination

The Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled a hearing to review the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence. The Jan. 30 hearing comes after Democrats ...
The Hill - 3d
Senate committees advance Trump’s energy, environment nominees

President Trump's picks to lead the nation’s energy and environment-focused agencies all sailed through committee votes on Thursday morning. The Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee ...
The Hill - 3d
Senate panel overwhelmingly advances Trump pick for VA secretary

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Thursday easily advanced former Georgia GOP Rep. Doug Collins's nomination to be the secretary of Veterans Affairs, setting him up for a full Senate vote ...
The Hill - 3d
Senate panel unanimously advances Trump pick to run DOT

A Senate panel unanimously advanced President Trump’s nominee to run the Department of Transportation (DOT), former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), on Wednesday. Duffy, the former five-term Republican ...
The Hill - 4d
Senate committee advances nomination for Trump Treasury pick

Editor's note: This article was updated to correct Sen. Ron Wyden's (D-Ore.) role on the Senate Finance Committee The Senate Finance Committee voted 16-11 on Tuesday morning to advance the ...
The Hill - 5d
Senate panel advances Bessent nomination

The move clears the way for a Senate floor vote in the coming days.
Politico - 5d
Senate votes to confirm Marco Rubio as Trump's secretary of state

The Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, voting unanimously to give President Donald Trump the first member of his new Cabinet on Inauguration Day.
NBC News - 5d
Senate Armed Services Committee advances Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted along party lines to send Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be defense secretary to the Senate floor.
NBC News - 6d
Senate panel advances Trump OMB nominee

Senators advanced the nomination of Russell Vought, who was tapped to be President Trump’s next budget chief, on Monday, as Republicans are ramping up efforts to confirm the president’s nominees. ...
The Hill - 6d
Senate panel advances Noem nomination for Homeland Security secretary

A Senate committee cleared President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with a bipartisan vote, paving the way for a Senate floor vote. The Senate Homeland Security ...
The Hill - 6d
Senate panel advances Defense secretary nominee Hegseth on party-line vote

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday voted to advance Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of Defense, to the floor. The 14-13 vote was strictly along party lines. ...
The Hill - 6d
Live updates: Noem pledges to eliminate CBP One app; Senate advances Laken Riley Act

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), President-elect Trump's pick to head the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is appearing for her confirmation hearing before a Senate panel Friday. The ...
The Hill - Jan. 17
Senate advances Laken Riley Act, teeing up final vote

The Senate voted Friday to advance the Laken Riley Act, putting Republicans a step closer to sending the first bill of the 119th Congress to President-elect Trump for his signature next week and ...
The Hill - Jan. 17
Scott Turner, Trump’s Housing Pick, Will Face Questions From Senators

Scott Turner, an official during the first Trump administration, said that the country was not building enough homes and that the housing department was “failing at its most basic mission.”
The New York Times - Jan. 16
Live Updates: Trump nominees grilled by senators; Turner ouster draws bipartisan ire

Thursday marked another busy day of hearings for President-elect Trump's Cabinet nominees as his inauguration approaches. The day featured Lee Zeldin, the nominee to run the Environmental ...
The Hill - Jan. 16
Jeffries: 'Shameful' for Johnson to remove Turner from helm of Intel panel

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday joined the chorus of Democrats bashing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over his decision to replace Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) at the top of ...
The Hill - Jan. 16
Watch live: Senate panel grills Hegseth in first Trump confirmation hearing

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday begins a busy week of Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings with the president-elect's Pentagon nominee, Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran and former Fox ...
The Hill - Jan. 14
F.B.I. Briefs Top Senators on Armed Services Panel About Hegseth

The committee’s Republican chairman and its top Democrat were briefed on F.B.I. findings into Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s defense secretary pick. Democrats questioned whether there were gaps.
The New York Times - Jan. 12
Senate advances Laken Riley Act in bipartisan 84-9 vote

The Senate advanced a bill aimed at addressing illegal immigration Thursday as the issue comes front and center under the new Congress.
CBS News - Jan. 9
Senate advances Laken Riley Act to crack down on illegal immigration in bipartisan vote

The Senate will vote to begin debate on the Laken Riley Act, a GOP-led bill aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration that has attracted support from Democrats.
NBC News - Jan. 9
Senate Democrats face early test with vote on Laken Riley Act

Democrats will face an early test on how to navigate immigration under President-elect Trump on Thursday when the Laken Riley Act becomes the first bill to hit the Senate floor. The bill, which ...
The Hill - Jan. 9
More Senate Democrats say they'll vote to advance Laken Riley Act

More Senate Democrats have indicated they plan to vote to advance the Laken Riley Act in a procedural vote this Friday. The bill — which is named for the Georgia nursing student who was killed by ...
The Hill - Jan. 8
Senate panel seeking more info on Hegseth ahead of confirmation hearings: Sources

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have quietly requested more information regarding allegations involving Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth, sources say.
ABC News - Jan. 3