HUD Braces for Deep Staffing Cuts as Trump and Musk Drive Government Reduction
Amid President Trump and Elon Musk's initiatives to downsize the federal government, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is preparing for significant staffing reductions.
Antonio Gaines, President of AFGE Council 222 representing HUD workers, estimates approximately 50% of employees could face job losses. While the Federal Housing Administration, responsible for insuring mortgages, remains unaffected, other divisions face severe cuts.
"We expect 75% cuts in fair housing and equal opportunity offices," Gaines stated. Reductions also loom over the Office of Policy Development and Research (compiling housing market data) and the Office of Community Planning and Development (offering affordable housing programs and disaster recovery assistance).
"We anticipate further cuts," Gaines said, expressing concerns about their impact on services like housing vouchers and rural hospital grants. "The disruptions to American citizens' services could be devastating."
The Trump administration's efforts to streamline and reduce the federal workforce have resulted in hundreds of thousands of government layoffs. Additionally, tens of thousands of workers have opted for deferred resignation programs.