Carson Op-Ed Lays Out the Trump Agenda for HUD

Ben Carson has penned an op-ed that lays out the ideology driving the Trump Administration's approach to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

1 minute read

September 22, 2017, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


HUD

Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock

Secretary Ben Carson has contributed an opinion piece to The Hill, in which he lays out his agenda for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The headline of the opinion piece: "We're changing HUD from a bureaucracy to an efficient organization." That line alone would seem to frame the op-ed as a response and reframing of the "dismantling of the administrative state" narrative built by New York magazine reporter Alex McGillis in a scathing article published in August.

In the opinion piece, Secretary Carson begins by expressing his support for the mission of HUD, and that he and his team are working toward improvements that will better deliver on those goals. "I’ve spent the last seven months investigating which HUD initiatives work best, which ones need reform, and which could be putting taxpayer dollars to better use," writes Secretary Carson, and the results is a plan he boils down to "three Rs."

  1. Reimagine the way HUD works.
  2. Restore the American dream.
  3. Rethink American communities.

Although Secretary Carson elaborates on these Rs in concept, there are no mentions of dollar figures or specific programs.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017 in The Hill

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Bluebird sitting on branch of green bush.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire

Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

3 hours ago - AP News

1984 Olympics

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles

LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.

4 hours ago - Newsweek

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.