U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner appeared on Fox Business Network's 'Kudlow' to discuss the termination of the Obama-Biden Era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. Turner emphasized that this decision aims to restore local control over neighborhood planning and revive the American dream of homeownership.
During his appearance, Turner criticized the AFFH rule as a "zoning tax," arguing that "Washington bureaucrats should not tell localities how to run their neighborhoods." He stated that local leaders are best positioned to understand their community needs and advocated for returning power to states and cities.
Turner highlighted regulatory reform as a priority at HUD, linking excessive regulations to the home affordability crisis. He asserted, "Burdensome regulations in our country are one of the biggest factors in the home affordability crisis." By reducing these regulations, he believes more Americans will have the opportunity to own homes.
The secretary also addressed concerns about suburban areas, describing AFFH as "75 pages of bureaucratic red tape" that hindered people from achieving suburban living aspirations. He declared, "We have to save our suburbs," and expressed enthusiasm for dismantling the rule to restore freedom and flexibility for families deciding where they want to live.
Turner concluded by emphasizing that Washington should not dictate residential choices: "Washington cannot pick winners and losers, and that's exactly what AFFH did." The removal of this rule is seen as a step towards allowing American families greater autonomy in choosing their living environments.
