FEDERAL AGENCY’S FAIR HOUSING OFFICE HIT HARDEST BY LAYOFFS
Fair housing is under attack from the same Federal agency responsible for enforcing fair housing laws and rooting out discrimination.
It was widely reported last week that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to more than 400 employees, according to press reports and court documents.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, the HUD division hit hardest by the cuts is the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), which investigates claims of discrimination and abuse. HUD laid off more than 100 FHEO staff on October 3rd. Earlier cuts had already reduced HUD’s Fair Housing enforcement staff by half. A whistleblower disclosure filed in August by four HUD civil rights attorneys says HUD cut 70% of its enforcement staff since January, including attorneys.
HUD’s stated purpose for this reduction in force is “to align our programs with the administration’s priorities and the appropriations available to the department.” Those priorities are made clear by the administration’s other actions on fair housing, including:
- Halting investigations of key complaints, including redlining based on race or ethnicity
- Refusing to investigate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Discontinuing the use of “disparate impact” to address discriminatory outcomes
- Attempting to block congressionally appropriated funding for community-based fair housing organizations
In contrast to the decimation at HUD, the New York State legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul have been meeting this moment with increased support for fair housing. The FY 2026 state budget includes new protections against discrimination in appraisals, and $4 million in new state support for fair housing testing.
“Unlike their counterparts in Washington, New York lawmakers have shown real courage in recognizing the importance of fair housing protections and enforcement,” said FHJC Policy Manager Britny McKenzie. We applaud Senators Brian Kavanagh, Rachel May, Assembly Members Linda Rosenthal, Michaelle Solages, Anna Kelles, and many others for their unwavering commitment to fighting housing discrimination.”
At a time when HUD’s abandonment of fair housing principles and a severe housing shortage are emboldening housing providers to discriminate against vulnerable home seekers, the FHJC will continue to boldly pursue its mission of combatting housing discrimination in all its forms to create open accessible inclusive communities for EVERYONE.
The mission of the FHJC, a nonprofit civil rights organization, is to eliminate housing discrimination; promote policies and programs that foster open, accessible, and inclusive communities; and strengthen enforcement of fair housing laws in the New York City region.