September 30, 2025
Upon opening the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website, a large red banner now stretches across the screen, stating, “The Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands. The Trump administration wants to keep the government open for the American people.”
This statement was publicized on the website on Tuesday morning, ahead of a midnight deadline for avoiding a federal government shutdown. HUD’s decision to release this statement has received criticism from ethics experts who claim the website’s rhetoric violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity. It is likely the banner also violates a provision preventing funds from the executive branch from being used to make political propaganda.
HUD has faced increasing criticism from various fair housing organizations nationwide for its pullbacks in fair housing enforcement. On September 17, 2025, HUD issued a memo rescinding FHEO Guidance Documents on Limited-English Proficiency, National Origin protections, Assistance Animals, Criminal History, Testing, and other fair housing topics. This memo follows an earlier internal cease-and-desist letter sent by HUD in July to all “HUD FHEO Funded Entities” instructing them to remove the HUD logo from all fair housing educational and outreach materials. The Fair Housing Council of Oregon received this same letter.
Current and former HUD employees claim Trump appointees have blocked their ability to enforce the Fair Housing Act adequately. In fact, two civil rights attorneys at HUD signed a whistleblower disclosure alleging a pullback in fair housing enforcement at the agency. HUD fired these lawyers on September 29, 2025, exacerbating an already exorbitant staff reduction of 65% in the HUD Fair Housing Office since January 1.
Fight to Protect Fair Housing
- Share NFHA’s Call to Action to contact members of Congress in support of fully funding FHIP: Act Now: Urge Congress to Support Critical Fair Housing Enforcement Funding in the FY ‘26 Budget.
- Circulate the Change.org petition in support of funding FHIP: Petition · Seniors, Veterans, Survivors Could Lose Housing Protections — Speak Out Now! – United States · Change.org.
- Fair Housing Week of Action Toolkit, to aid you in preparing and executing various advocacy activities in support of FHIP funding, including social media messaging and graphics!
- Write letters or emails to your local representatives.