The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs has advanced the nomination of Scott Turner to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the second administration of President Donald Trump. After clearing this hurdle, Turner’s nomination will now require a confirmation vote in the full Senate to seat him in his new position.
The committee vote of 13-11 was split along party lines. Democrats expressed a willingness to vote favorably, but they said that a lack of an FBI background check for Turner was a sticking point that prevented them from joining their Republican colleagues in having a more bipartisan result.
Both banking committee leaders — chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and ranking member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — offered statements for their positions in the opening moments of the meeting that advanced Turner’s nomination.
“HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable communities and support quality, affordable homes, serving the most vulnerable in our nation,” Scott said. “Scott Turner’s story and perspective are important tools he brings to the table. Unfortunately, we are facing a housing crisis across the country.”
Scott contended that HUD is “failing at its core mission,” adding that spending at the department under the Biden administration “has soared, but even according to their own surveys, homelessness has risen — up 18% in the last 12 months and 33% since 2020. As a committee, we can work in a bipartisan fashion with HUD to tackle these lingering, stubborn problems facing millions of Americans.”
In her remarks, Warren added that she and other Democrats are “eager” to work with Republicans in a bipartisan fashion to address the nation’s housing challenges. While she expressed concerns about Turner’s nomination, she said she was encouraged by his understanding of an acute shortage of housing supply, which she said is “the single most important factor driving high housing prices.”
Warren added that she came prepared to vote in favor of Turner’s nomination but believes the committee should not move forward without his FBI background check. The committee, Warren said, had yet to receive or review it.
“There is no reason to anticipate a problem, but it would be irresponsible for this committee to vote on a Cabinet nominee without his background check,” she said. “And it would not be consistent with committee precedent. The committee’s customary practice, followed by both Republican and Democratic chairs, is to hold a vote on a nomination only after the FBI background investigation is complete and the committee has receipt of a briefing on it.”
Warren said that she and other Democrats are not looking for a delay, adding that the onus is on the FBI itself to get “its act together” in providing the information. Warren said this prevented her from voting yes on advancing the nomination.
Other Democrats on the committee expressed similar sentiments, saying there is a willingness to vote yes but that the lack of a background check is a cause for concern.
Scott added in a rebuttal that the committee does not require a background check and that other Cabinet nominees received confirmation votes, including from other Democrats on their respective Senate committees. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) agreed, saying the committee should “back our chairman” and that Turner’s record demonstrates that he exercises power “maturely.”
“I’m not saying Sen. Warren has any ill motive here, but this will delay us,” Kennedy said. “We need to get started, we need housing in America and I think our chairman has laid out the very solid reasons why we should go forward today.”
Soon after the vote was recorded, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released a statement urging the full Senate to confirm Turner as soon as possible.
“Turner’s confirmation is an important step toward building his key staff and installing leadership at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Ginnie Mae,” said Bob Broeksmit, MBA’s president and CEO. “HUD will play a critical role in helping to solve our nation’s ongoing supply and affordability challenges for owners and renters, and we are pleased that the Trump administration appears ready to tackle this issue.”
Senators speculated that a full Senate floor vote could happen as soon as next week, but they were unclear on a timeline. It will be up to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to schedule a vote, at which point Turner is likely to be confirmed and begin work as the 19th HUD secretary.
