National Urban League: HUD Has Abandoned Its Responsibility To Ensure Equitable Housing Access

NEW YORK (September 22, 2025) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration's failure to enforce fair housing laws:

"The Trump administration’s systematic dismantling of fair housing protections represents a grave betrayal of civil rights and a direct assault on vulnerable communities across America. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has gutted its Fair Housing Office, slashing staff and resources, abandoning investigations, and closing cases in progress. This retreat from enforcement has emboldened discriminatory landlords and housing authorities, who may now discriminate with impunity, knowing the federal government will not hold them accountable.

"The administration’s rollback of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule — a key tool for combating segregation — further undermines decades of progress. By allowing localities to self-certify compliance without oversight, HUD has abandoned its responsibility to ensure equitable housing access. This policy shift disproportionately harms Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, and disabled Americans, exacerbating already stark disparities in homeownership and housing stability.

"Fair housing is not a partisan issue; it is a moral imperative rooted in the promise of equal opportunity. The Trump administration’s failure to enforce these laws is a profound injustice that demands urgent redress. The National Urban League urges Congress to fulfill its duty of oversight, reverse these rollbacks and recommit the federal government to enforcing fair, inclusive, and accountable housing policy for all."