County Executive Marc Elrich called the roll-back of fair housing enforcement under the Trump administration “racially-motivated” and “just another threat to people.”
“It kind of further cements his role as leading American racist in a high political office,” Elrich said during a recent media briefing. “And it’s just disturbing that he continues to find ways to hurt people. I lived through Richard Nixon, the Vietnam War, and all the stuff that went in between. And nobody has come close to the willingness to cause harm to people that this president has done.”
Whistleblower Report
Whistleblowers alleged leadership in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is undermining civil rights work. Last week, members of Congress wrote to HUD Secretary Scott Turner with concern about recent actions and demanding that the department reverse course and ensure fair housing.
According to the whistleblower report from HUD civil rights attorneys, a number of Office of Fair Housing attorneys — who litigate discrimination complaints — were cut under President Donald Trump’s administration and remaining attorneys were told fair housing was “not a priority” of the administration. Actions since January are “decimating the capacity” to investigate housing discrimination, the report claims. Under Secretary Turner, the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office has been “decimated by illegal firings” and mass resignations under threat of large-scale reductions in force. And, HUD has a plan to remove the majority of attorneys doing the mandated duties of the Fair Housing Office, according to the whistleblower report.
An Atmosphere of Retaliation
Leadership created an environment in which staff has to unlawfully reject complaints, abandon investigations, and dismiss cases, the report claims.
The whistleblowers believe HUD actions, including reassigning attorneys to other divisions, are in retaliation for performing civil rights work. The report claims HUD has a “desire to circumvent federal laws and stymie any efforts to properly oversee federal funds, combat discrimination, and protect survivors of domestic violence.”
“It’s just another threat to people,” Elrich said. “It’s racially-motivated.”
According to Federal Unionists Network on Monday, two of attorney whistleblowers have been fired from HUD.
