As the Senate considers confirming Scott Turner for the role of Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), he is poised to assume leadership of the nation's premier housing agency amidst a period of heightened scrutiny on housing affordability. President Donald Trump's campaign promise of substantial government budget reductions has raised concerns among some industry insiders that funding allocated to HUD might be significantly reduced. The agency is tasked with providing rental support for low-income families, overseeing mortgage insurance for potential homebuyers, and enforcing fair housing laws. Bob Greenstein, a visiting fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, expressed his concerns, stating, "Given the budgetary pressures and the push to make significant cuts, I am worried about the potential shortage of affordable housing and the impact of rising rents on lower-income households that are living from paycheck to paycheck."

The major housing industry associations in the United States have voiced their optimism that Turner, a former NFL player who has collaborated closely with HUD Secretary Ben Carson during Trump's first term, will engage with them to enhance housing affordability across the country. Carl Harris, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, stated in a recent announcement, "We are eager to collaborate with Turner to reduce regulatory burdens." Harris continued, "Home builders across the nation are prepared to join forces with HUD to eliminate costly regulations and to implement policies that will make homeownership and rental housing accessible and affordable for all Americans." Bob Broeksmit, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, which represents the real estate finance sector, also congratulated Turner and emphasized that addressing the housing affordability crisis should be a top priority for the Trump administration. Broeksmit declared, "The MBA is dedicated to working with the incoming HUD leadership on policies and programs that will increase the housing supply, improve affordability, and tackle the challenges and opportunities at the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae."

If Turner's appointment is confirmed, he will take the helm at a time when the cost of renting and buying homes is becoming prohibitive for many Americans, potentially increasing reliance on HUD's affordable housing services. Throughout Trump's first term, there were repeated attempts to slash HUD's budget, none of which were approved by Congress. Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to reducing government spending by appointing Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a new "Department of Government Efficiency," which is focused on reducing government costs and regulations. Howard Husock, a senior fellow in domestic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, anticipates continued pressure on HUD to reduce budgets in Trump's second term, with housing choice vouchers potentially being a target. These vouchers, also known as Section 8 vouchers, assist low-income families in securing affordable private rental housing and constitute the largest portion of HUD's budget. Husock noted, "The program has grown significantly under Biden, and Turner will have to decide how to manage it and whether he wishes to alter the housing voucher regulations." He added, "If Trump's budget cuts are successfully implemented, there will undoubtedly be longer waiting lists for housing vouchers, assuming nothing else changes."

Liz Osborn, Vice President of Policy at Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to home access and affordability, suggested that HUD budget cuts during Trump's second term are not a foregone conclusion. She stated, "Given the widespread need felt by constituents across the nation, we can hopefully anticipate continued robust funding for crucial programs at HUD." Osborn continued, "Although the presidential budget proposals included cuts for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, we ultimately witnessed increased appropriations for the department during Trump's first term."

Turner served as the Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first term. The council was designed to revitalize distressed communities by channeling billions of dollars in private investment into "Opportunity Zones" as part of Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Trump praised Turner's role in the initiative, stating, "These efforts, in conjunction with former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, were greatly enhanced by Scott's oversight of 16 Federal Agencies, which implemented over 200 policy actions to further Economic Development." Trump added, "Under Scott's leadership, Opportunity Zones attracted over $50 billion in private investment!"

The 2017 tax cut legislation is set to expire during Trump's second term. Should the Opportunity Zone program be renewed, Turner is likely to play a significant role in its implementation once again. However, a 2020 study by the Urban Institute, funded by JPMorgan Chase, found that the program did not fully meet its objectives. The study's authors concluded, "While there are compelling examples of community benefit, the incentive as a whole is not achieving its economic and community development goals." They further noted, "The structure of the incentive makes it more challenging to develop projects that benefit communities in areas of greatest need."