Amid reports that HUD is planning to shut almost two-thirds of HUD’s state field offices, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) have stepped forward in a rare bipartisan effort to save HUD’s local presence. These field offices, which serve as lifelines between HUD and communities, provide customized assistance to housing providers, direct assistance to families, and provide oversight to prevent federal housing funding abuse.

What You Need to Know: The restructuring plan that HUD is suggesting threatens the elimination of many state-level field offices. In a recent letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, Senators Rounds and Reed noted that maintaining the offices is critical to delivering HUD programs effectively, safeguarding taxpayers’ dollars, and directly serving vulnerable populations. The bipartisan letter asks HUD to keep its physical presence in every state, citing the harm that closures will inflict on housing security throughout the country.

Both senators are on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over HUD affordable housing programs, and the Senate Appropriations Committee, which has jurisdiction over HUD funding.

What’s Next: With HUD proceeding on its plan to reduce its workforce, this opposition by senators could influence future action. Also, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Council 222, representing HUD employees, has raised concerns about the legality and impact of these closures. So far, HUD has not officially confirmed these plans to close field offices. However, the agency has already begun layoffs, with 146 people reportedly being terminated in the Office of Field Policy and Management.