Housing advocates send ‘urgent message’ to lawmakers
The NAHB addresses housing affordability on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, Democrats are requesting information on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac privatization efforts.
Key points:
- Days before its 2025 Legislative Conference began, the NAHB raised concerns about proposed cuts to HUD’s budget, which the association said were “draconian.”
- Staffing shakeups have continued at the CFPB, with the bureau’s acting head of enforcement resigning this week.
- Senate Democrats set a deadline for FHFA Director Bill Pulte to provide information on his plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) arrived in Washington, D.C., this week for the group's 2025 Legislative Conference. The event kicked off on June 11 as over 1,000 housing advocates took to Capitol Hill to lobby lawmakers on legislation that they believe could help ease the housing affordability crisis.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are calling on Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to pause and explain any potential efforts to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after Pulte and President Donald Trump indicated support for this change.
Nearly five months into his second term, Trump's administration is still taking shape, with a new Housing and Urban Development (HUD) deputy secretary confirmed this week as another leadership shakeup occurred at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
NAHB targets housing affordability in Capitol Hill meetings
The NAHB previewed its 2025 Legislative Conference with a message addressed to HUD Secretary Scott Turner. The June 4 letter expressed disappointment in "draconian cuts to vital HUD programs" made in the Trump administration's recent budget proposal.
"NAHB strongly opposes the $26.7 billion cut and block granting of HUD's rental assistance programs — which include PBRA, the HCV Program, and other housing program funds for the public, elderly and disabled. Likewise, NAHB strongly opposes defunding the HOME and CDBG Programs," the letter said. "These critical HUD programs are absolutely necessary to expand the supply and availability of affordable housing."
On June 11, NAHB members began attending meetings on Capitol Hill "to deliver an urgent message to their lawmakers: The best way to ease the nation's housing affordability crisis and boost housing production is to break down the barriers that are impeding new home and apartment construction," NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes said in a press release.
The NAHB identified three main issues of concern for its members:
Energy standards: The NAHB wants lawmakers to block efforts by HUD and the Department of Agriculture to institute a minimum energy standard, a move that the association warned could result in higher housing costs. Meanwhile, the NAHB wants the Energy Choice Act passed so that local governments cannot block natural energy use in new homes.
Construction labor shortage: The association is urging Congress to pass the CONSTRUCTS Act, which proposes the creation of a grant program aimed at developing new talent in residential construction. Addressing the construction labor shortage would help ease the affordability crisis, according to the NAHB.
Tax policy: The NAHB is pressing lawmakers to support a tax policy that would retain energy tax incentives, provide affordable rental housing resources and keep the pro-housing policies introduced in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Staffing changes at HUD, CFPB
One week after the NAHB sent its letter to Turner, the HUD secretary celebrated the confirmation of Andrew Hughes as the department's new deputy secretary. Trump nominated Hughes in March, and the Senate confirmed his appointment in a 51-43 vote on June 11.
"Andrew Hughes is a servant leader and is the right person, at the right time for this assignment to carry out HUD's mission," Turner said in a press release that noted he and Hughes worked together at HUD during Trump's first term. "We share a clear vision for HUD's future, and it is truly a blessing to have him in this role. He will serve the American people well."
At the CFPB, Cara Petersen, the acting head of enforcement, resigned on Tuesday in an email alleging the bureau's mission is "under attack." The government agency has faced months of upheaval in the wake of Trump's return to the White House, starting with the president's firing of former Director Rohit Chopra in January through more recent efforts to reduce staff and pause operations.
Petersen wrote that it was "clear that the bureau's current leadership has no intention to enforce the law in any meaningful way," according to The New York Times, which obtained a copy of the email.
Democrats demand answers on plans for Fannie, Freddie
Last month, Trump and Pulte indicated that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be moving toward privatization in comments that quickly raised concern among Democratic leaders.
In a June 5 letter, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts led a group of lawmakers in calling for Pulte to provide further clarification on his plans for the government-sponsored enterprises.
"Hasty and poorly planned changes to the Enterprises could dramatically increase costs for families seeking to purchase a home," the group wrote in part, adding that such changes could make "the housing crisis even worse."
The letter, which was signed by 14 senators, asked Pulte to pause any privatization efforts and update lawmakers on the administration's plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by June 18.