Ex-NFL star and Opportunity Zones leader poised to tackle housing affordability
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Scott Turner (pictured), a motivational speaker and former NFL player, to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
If confirmed, Turner will oversee a $70 billion budget and guide a department with around 8,000 employees at a critical time when housing affordability and homelessness are pressing national issues.
Turner, chair of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), previously served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during the Trump administration. The council spearheaded the Opportunity Zones initiative, which Trump praised in his announcement, noting that under Turner’s leadership, the program attracted over $50 billion in private investment.
“Scott will work alongside me to Make America Great Again for EVERY American,” Trump said in his statement.
Turner’s selection hints at a focus on community development and a departure from current federal housing strategies. While specific plans remain unclear, his alignment with conservative think tanks like the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) suggested an emphasis on tackling homelessness through reforms addressing mental health, substance abuse, and deregulation of local housing markets.
AFPI’s stated goals prioritize moving away from the “housing first” model, which focuses on providing stable housing as a prerequisite for addressing other issues. Instead, they advocate policies empowering law enforcement and removing barriers to housing construction.
Turner’s leadership could also incorporate recommendations from Project 2025, a blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation, which includes proposals such as prioritizing housing vouchers for two-parent households and limiting aid to mixed-status families.
Turner brings a unique mix of experience to the role. Following a nine-year NFL career with teams like the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos, he served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017. His work as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term allowed him to shape community-focused investment initiatives.
While his views on HUD’s broader programs remain unknown, his leadership style is likely to reflect his history of combining private investment with community development efforts.
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David Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference, expressed optimism about Turner’s track record in underserved communities.
“[Turner] has a well-established commitment to community development and was a vocal advocate for investing in underserved communities in the first Trump administration,” Dworkin said. “We look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”
Bob Broeksmit, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), highlighted the importance of addressing housing affordability under Turner’s leadership.
“Pursuing policies and initiatives that help solve our nation’s housing affordability crisis for owners and renters should be a top policy priority under the Trump administration. Scott’s leadership as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump administration, where, alongside Secretary Ben Carson, he was instrumental in implementing Opportunity Zones, will serve him well,” Broeksmit said in a statement.
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