Blumenthal Calls on HUD Secretary to Reverse Efforts to Take Affordable Housing Away from Seniors, Victims of Natural Disasters & Low-Income Tenants - Deepening Housing Crisis

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Scott Turner urging him to reverse efforts by the Trump Administration to decimate housing programs that provide accessible housing for seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families and people experiencing homelessness. The regional HUD office in Hartford has already lost several employees, and recent reports reveal plans by the Trump Administration to reduce HUD staffing levels by 50 percent, which would dramatically delay services and drive up housing costs.

“Many housing experts and former HUD employees agree that these changes are likely to disrupt housing markets, make homes less affordable, and deepen the housing crisis,” wrote Blumenthal. “There has been no evidence that the Trump Administration has carefully conducted a review of HUD’s operations and determined that precise percentage reduction that would maintain current levels of service. In reality, the cuts in jobs, which impact tens of thousands – staff and their families who depend on them – seem designed to deliberately inflict harm and hurt and savagely undermine the agency’s ability to ensure affordable, accessible housing for seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families and people experiencing homelessness.”

Blumenthal highlighted the implications of these staffing reductions for Connecticut homeowners and tenants, writing, “These cuts will devastate HUD’s ability to assist individuals and families across the country amid our current housing crisis, including in Connecticut. Federally subsidized housing programs play an essential role in housing more than 160,000 Connecticut residents. HUD cannot achieve its mission and perform its critical housing functions while facing these drastic staffing reductions.

The full text of the letter can be found here

March 10, 2025

The Honorable Scott Turner

Secretary

United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

451 7th Street SW

Washington, D.C.  20410

Dear Secretary Turner,

I write to express deep concerns about planned changes at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including drastic cuts to staffing levels, that threaten HUD’s stated mission of creating strong, sustainable, inclusive communities, and quality affordable homes for all.[1] I am aware that the Hartford regional office has lost several employees and will likely lose many more. Uncertainty around future layoffs has greatly hurt morale and will likely lead to more employees leaving their positions, inevitably leading to delays or denial in services and an increase in cost burdens for tenants and homeowners.

Recent reports, including leaked internal documents, reveal plans by the Trump administration to cut HUD staffing levels by 50 percent.[2] Many housing experts and former HUD employees agree that these changes are likely to disrupt housing markets, make homes less affordable, and deepen the housing crisis.[3] For example, the Office of Community Planning and Development, with broad responsibilities that include repairing homes after natural disasters and improving living conditions for low- and moderate-income populations, is facing an 84 percent staffing reduction.[4] Similarly, the Office of Public and Indian Housing, which facilitates rental assistance subsidies for more than 3.5 million households, is facing a staffing reduction of 50 percent.[5]

There has been no evidence that the Trump Administration has carefully conducted a review of HUD’s operations and determined that precise percentage reduction that would maintain current levels of service. In reality, the cuts in jobs, which impact tens of thousands – staff and their families who depend on them – seem designed to deliberately inflict harm and hurt and savagely undermine the agency’s ability to ensure affordable, accessible housing for seniors, people with disabilities, low-income families and people experiencing homelessness. 

These cuts will devastate HUD’s ability to assist individuals and families across the country amid our current housing crisis, including in Connecticut. I have already heard from my constituents who are understandably concerned about the negative impacts of the administration’s actions. Federally subsidized housing programs play an essential role in housing more than 160,000 Connecticut residents.[6] Without the dedicated public servants who administer these programs, rental assistance could be delayed or denied, individuals experiencing homelessness could see supportive services stripped away, and programs to make homeownership more affordable are at risk of being shuttered. HUD cannot achieve its mission and perform its critical housing functions while facing these drastic staffing reductions.

I urge you to immediately reverse these potentially devastating cuts to staffing and services. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

  Sincerely,

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