Reports that HUD may cut its workforce by 50 percent have sparked growing concern among lawmakers, housing advocates, and HUD employees. The move, which could eliminate nearly 4,300 positions, has raised alarms about the agency’s ability to carry out its mission at a time when affordable housing is already in crisis.

What you need to know: Secretary Turner recently announced that HUD will launch its own Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force to review how HUD is spending funds. “HUD will be detailed and deliberate about every dollar spent to serve rural, tribal, and urban communities,” Secretary Turner said. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are no longer in a business-as-usual posture and the DOGE task force will play a critical role in helping to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and ultimately better serve the American people. We have already identified over $260 million in savings and we have more to accomplish.”

Congressional leaders, housing advocates, and union representatives are raising alarms. Leading Senate Democrats have sent a letter to Secretary Turner demanding answers and calling for an immediate halt to the layoffs, citing their potential to worsen the housing crisis. The senators’ main concerns centered on how these layoffs would impact HUD’s ability to fulfill its mission. The letter warned that without sufficient staff, community and economic development projects, disaster recovery efforts, and housing programs across the country could grind to a halt.

The bottom line: Cutting HUD’s workforce in half while the nation faces record-high housing costs, homelessness, and disaster recovery needs is a move that many see as reckless and dangerous. Lawmakers and housing advocates continue to push back, but with layoffs reportedly already underway, the future of HUD and the millions who rely on HUD, remains uncertain.