Lawsuit Challenges the Trump Administration's Approach to Fair Housing

"Fair-housing advocates planned to file a lawsuit early Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and HUD Secretary Ben Carson for suspending an Obama-era rule requiring communities to examine and address barriers to racial integration," reports Tracy Jan.

"The lawsuit alleges Carson unlawfully suspended the 2015 rule by not providing advance public notice or opportunity for comment," according to Jan, who reports that the Washington Post obtained a draft of the lawsuit.

The Obama Administration approved the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing in July 2015 as a way to better enforce the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which was intended to protect Americans from discrimination in the housing market. The Trump Administration suspended a key part of the rule in January 2018.

Under the Trump Administration, HUD has changed mission away from racial discrimination and fair housing, proposing rent increases for people receiving federal support (more on that proposal in Carson's own words here) and generating political support on EnVision Centers, which provide job training and workforce development.