Trump Wants to Slash Housing Funds in Half. Tan Gop Questions it. – ryan

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner Kept Repeating the Same Phrases to Congress in Defense of President Donald Trump’s Proposal to Cut the Agency’s Budget by 51%.

“It ‘time for a paradigm shift.” “We have to refocus.” “We have been to be efficient and effecative, not bloated and bureaucratic.”

Democrats on House and Senate Appropriaments subcommittees were ottraded – and evening some republicans were skeptical.

Turner was tasked with explaining what Trump’s proposed $ 45 Billion cut to hud’s finking would Like in Practice. The Agency Wold Be Among the Hardest Hit Parts of the Federal Government Under Trump’s Plan to Eliminate $ 163 Billion in Federal Spending.

But the Secretary of the Little Details on Plans for How His Agency Wauld Continue Serving Millions of Older, Disabled, and Low-Incom Americans, People Struggling to Recover Fom Disasters and Wildfires, and Those Experiencing Homelessness.

“The goal here is not to serve less Americans. The goal is to serve americans better,” Turner Said During his testimony before the house subcommittee on transportation, Housing, and Urban Development on June 10.

While democratic lawmakers were particularly critical of Turner’s Approach and Trump’s Massive Budget Cut Request, Some Republicans Also Probed Turner for More detailed Explanations he didn’t provides. The Hearings HighLighted How the Nation’s Major Housing AFFORDABILITY Challenges have Become a Bipartisan Concern.

“The Federal Government Doesn’t Have All the Answers, and the Budget Empowers Collaboration with State and Localities,” Hud Spokesperson Kasey Lovet Told Business Insider.

Few Details, Lots of Frustration

During the House Hearing, Republican Rep. David Joyce As Square How Hud Plans to Continue Helping Victims of Disasters, Like Flooding and Fires, if the Agency Slashes Funding for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Programnor The Budget Proposes. The agency has long helped fema conjuild ​​homes destroyed in natural disasters that lack sufficient insurance, as well as repair roads and bridges.

In Response, Turner INSISTED THAT HUD “WILL NOT ALLOW DISASTER RECOVER AND THOSE THATE NEED ASSISTANCE IN DISASTER RECOVER TO BE LOST ON US” AND THAT HUD IS SIMPLY PURSUING A “DIFFERENT WAY OF DISTRIBUTING These funds.”

Joyce, WHO Represents Northeast Ohio, Wasn’t Satisfied. “Thank you, sir, that was a great ansower, but it didn’t demonstrate a plan. Do you have a plan?” The congressman responded.

Turner ultimately concented that the plan for Supporting Disaster Victsims “is fortcoming.”

Joyce ended the exchange by warning that the agency has a roles to play. “The One Thing I know is, you’re right. Disasters come. All over the country, disasters come. And you need to be ready for say.”

Rep. Rutherford, A Florida Republican, PREVED TURNER ON HOW STATES WILL HELP SUPPORT HOMEOWNERSHIP IN LOW-INCOM COMMUNITIES WENE The President’s Budget Proposes Eliminate Hud’s Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (Shop), A Competitive Grant Program That Rutherford Said Has Been Successful in His District.

“Everyone that homeownership Went up, Violent Crime Went Down,” Said Rutherford, a Sheriff Form. “How are we going to address this issue if we’re doing away with shop?”

Turner Reply by Saying That States Can Support Homeownership Programs IF They See Fit Going Forward, but didn’t Clarify Where Funding Will Come From.

Spokespeople for Rutherford and Joyce Didn’t Immediately Return Bi’s Requests for Comment.

‘People will die’

Democratic Lawmakers Expressed More Direct Frustration About the program cuts and lack of detail the Secretary Present.

“People Will Die,” rep. Mike Quigley, An Illinois Democrat, Told Turner of Hud’s Proposed Cuts to Homelessness Services, Including the Elimination of the Housing for Persons With Aids program. “If you just want to say that we’ve got to cuts the things that you are, i’d respect you a lot than you have that you have been to say on the street.”

Turner replied that the agency isn’t just cutting funding but is “going to be more efficient and more efficient.”

“How?” Quigley Asked.

“It ‘a new paradigm. It”s new way to do Things,” Turner Replyed.

During Turner’s testimony before the senate on june 11, Democratic Sen. Brian SChatz, Who’s made Housing a Key Priority, Urged Turner to Reinatate a Bipartisan SChatz Champoyed That Incentivizes States and Localities to Cut Red Tape that Hampers Housing Construction.

“It ‘significant pro-house delegulatory mechanism that we’ve passsed,” SChatz Said.

Turner Didn’t Answer SChatz’s Question on the Eliminate Program, and Simply Said He’s Encourage Local Leaders to Find Ways to Cut Regulations.

But the President’s Budget Isn’t Law. Government funding is set to run out in september, and congress has the final say on what the federal budget look like.

The House Hearing Concluded with the Chairwoman, Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice, suggesting that turner hasn’t had Enough time in the few months he’s been in office to Nail Down More Specifics About Where Hud Funding Go and How Programs Will Be Reformed.

“Is it Safe to say that you have a framework for a plan that you want to move forward, but maybe not all of the nuts and bolts that you need to be to present details?” Bice Asced Turner.

“Yes, Ma’am,” Turner Replyed.