The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has voiced disapproval over the inclusion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria in Asheville's draft disaster relief plan for Hurricane Helene. The City of Asheville, North Carolina, had posted a draft action plan that proposed distributing millions of dollars for disaster relief using DEI criteria.
"HUD looks forward to helping thousands of North Carolinians rebuild after Hurricane Helene by directing funding assistance to impacted businesses, non-profit organizations and neighborhoods," stated Secretary Turner. However, he criticized Asheville's approach: "Asheville’s draft action plan incorporated DEI criteria to prioritize some impacted residents over others, which was unacceptable."
Secretary Turner further emphasized HUD's stance against DEI: "Once again, let me be clear DEI is dead at HUD. We will not provide funding to any program or grantee that does not comply with President Trump’s executive orders."
The city has been allocated $225 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding by HUD for addressing unmet needs following the hurricane. The draft action plan indicated a focus on minority and women-owned businesses within its Small Business Support Program.
President Trump's executive order aimed at ending government-funded DEI programs was highlighted as the basis for rejecting the current form of Asheville's plan.
