Politics & Government
HUD Sec Nominee E. Scott Turner: ‘HUD Has Failed Its Core Mission’
Trump Nom Turner: 'We're not building enough housing. We need millions of homes of all kinds, single family, apartments, manufactured homes'
“My job [as HUD Secretary] would be to uphold the laws on the books.” So said soon to be inaugurated former and future President Donald J. Trump HUD Secretary nominee Eric Scott Turner per a deep dive report linked here. Among the remarks made by Turner in a confirmation hearing on 1.16.2025 with the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs were the following.
Per Turner.
I want to thank President Trump for his confidence and for nominating me for this pivotal position.
Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I sit before you today as the nominee to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
But deep down, this opportunity is very personal to me.
Find out what's happening in Lakelandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
You see, I grew up a kid in Plano and Richardson, Texas.
Who worked as a dishwasher at Spring Creek Barbeque.
Early on in childhood, whose family was broken due to divorce, with the odds stacked against him.
Who overcame adversity and bucked the status quo to attend and graduate from college.
Who, in spite of being drafted in the 7th round, went on to have a successful career in the National Football League.
Who went on to serve in the Texas State Legislature, which was a great honor.
And work in the White House to advance the Opportunity Zone initiative.
As I sit before you today, I am humbled by the call to serve my country as a member of President Trump’s cabinet.
I know my upbringing and background are not completely unique. There are many in this country — some sitting in this room today — who at one point or another had to overcome adversity of all kinds. We have all been there. And recognizing this, I hope we can work together for the betterment of all Americans and the American Dream.
I share my story with you because the challenges that HUD faces are vital to our nation as well as personal to me. They’re not just things I hear about and read about. These are experiences that members of my family and I have seen and lived. And that perspective is something I can bring to the table.
HUD’s mission is to create strong and sustainable communities and support quality affordable homes — serving the most vulnerable of our nation.
Yet, as we sit here, we have a housing crisis in our country, where American people and families are struggling every day. HUD is failing at its most basic mission.
Take the Point-In-Time homelessness figures HUD released several weeks ago. On one single night, there were 770,000 Americans experiencing homelessness. Let that sink in: 770,000 homeless Americans. That’s not only an all-time high, it’s an increase of 32 percent from just two years ago. That’s a national embarrassment and something that cannot continue.
As a country, we’re not building enough housing. We need millions more homes of all kinds, single family, apartments, condos, duplexes, manufactured housing, you name it, so individuals and families can have a roof over their heads and a place to call home.
Then there’s the HUD workforce. Every report I’ve seen shows HUD at the bottom when it comes to employees returning to work. We need to bring the HUD staff back to the office so that they are empowered to serve the American people.
But this moment is not just about fixing what’s broken, it’s about continuing and expanding the policies from the first Trump administration — policies that worked. I was fortunate to help lead the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. There, I saw firsthand the impact of Opportunity Zones, policies that give Americans in distressed communities an opportunity. A foundation. A chance to start a business. To build new homes. To be self-sustaining. To be self confident and to unleash that promise and potential that I know the Lord blesses us all with.
When I played in the NFL, we relied on game films to identify our mistakes and areas for improvement. I spent hours poring over the tapes to identify the smallest weaknesses in my game and determine what I could do to improve. The film told the story of my performance — cutting through the noise and focusing on results.
If I am confirmed as Secretary, I want to bring this same approach to the work we do at HUD because each day we have an opportunity to improve and better serve the American people.
Senators, this is a clarion call. Poverty has no party. Homelessness has no party. It doesn’t see red or blue. My call is to be a steward, a champion, an ambassador. I want to lift up the stories of all the forgotten Americans. And I want to work with you to do it.
My heart is ready to serve. I thank God for allowing me this opportunity. And I want to thank all of you on the committee for your kindness and consideration.
Thank you.
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Manufactured Home Pro News note (MHProNews) Note: the PDF of Eric Scott Turner's formal remarks as prepared and obtained from the U.S. Senate by MHProNews are found at this link here.
Remarks by Senators Tim Scott (SC-R) and Elizabeth Warren (MA-D) are part of the detailed report linked here.
Several of Turner's remarks dovetail with issues previously raised by this writer for MHProNews and this Patch.
The affordable housing crisis can’t be solved without the construction of millions of more homes in the U.S. To hit those goals, as the report linked below detailed, factory-built housing is needed.
More specifically, without subsidies the math and evidence make it clear that modern "mainstream" manufactured homes are an essential part of HUD and local planning.
https://patch.com/florida/lake...
Mark Weiss, J.D., President and CEO of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has Hope for Trump 2.0 v Trump 1.0: Mark Weiss: 'TRUMP 2.0 – The Manufactured Housing Industry’s Second Chance.'
https://www.manufacturedhomepr...
As Realtor said in the report from 2024 linked below: What's a Manufactured Home? The Next Step Beyond Mobile Homes.
https://patch.com/florida/lake...
Notorious and higher profile Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) member Frank Rolfe's remarks in the report below are relevant to what faces Turner at HUD.
For more details on drama in MHVille, including at the Manufactured Housing Institute, see the linked reports. Other topics follow.
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> Lesli Gooch Ph.D.-Award, Coverup, Headfake, Scandal? Rest of the Story (Manufactured Housing Institute linked)
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> USA Today - David Plouffe and Dem Advisers on Kamala Harris Revelation
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> Niskanen Center Praises Manufactured Home ‘Cost Savings’ and ‘Quality’
> Alice Carter-The Northern Forum-Deporting Immigrants & Housing Crisis
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> The Creepy Line-Peter Schweizer-Dr. Jordan Peterson-Dr. Robert Epstein
> Secret State Miniseries - Fictional TV Series Shed Light on Reality
> Trump Transition Team Asked to Prioritize Affordable Housing Issues
> Top 10 States for Homelessness & Top Cities for Crime=Shocking Lessons
> WashPost-American Dream Fades But Assoc CEO Mark Weiss Shows Solution
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> Why do Liars Lie? Why do those Engaged in Paltering and Spin Palter?
> Controversy-Manufactured Housing Institute-Lesli Gooch-Mark Bowersox
> ‘Mobile Home Values Rising Faster Than Single-Family’ House-Wow Fact$
> Realtor-What Is a Manufactured Home? The Next Step Beyond Mobile Homes
> Orlando RE Agent Smith-Younger Adults Will Need $8500 Monthly for Rent
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> Blankley-Goodbye American Dream? Only 10% Polled Can Buy a House; But
> Frank Rolfe-Special Interests ‘Don’t Want to Solve Affordable Housing'
> TARK-‘I’m a Teen and Know the Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis’
---> Renting? Rent too High? Odds Are DOJ Suit vs RealPage Matters to You
> New-Certified “Half Price Homes” - Affordable Housing Solution Redux
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> Solution: “Would-Be Homebuyers Need 80% More Income Than 4 Years Ago”
L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing. ###
