There have been numerous media reports detailing DOGE activities across the Federal government – some reporting the elimination of HUD programs and significant reductions in agency personnel. The nation is facing a significant housing supply shortage as identified in the President’s January 22, 2025, Memorandum that focused on the need to increase housing supply and lower the cost of housing.
Here is the current state of play: The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was created by President Trump via an executive order on his very first day back in office. Trump appointed adviser Elon Musk in charge and vowed to use the unit to cut government waste and slash federal regulations. DOGE staff began its review of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last week.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced that the department will launch its own DOGE Task Force to review “how HUD is spending American taxpayer dollars,” seeking to ensure that “HUD will be detailed and deliberate about every dollar spent to serve rural, tribal and urban communities.” The HUD statement said the task force “will be composed of HUD employees.”
NMHC is continuing to monitor DOGE activities to communicate with agency officials to provide information on ways to streamline critical agency programs and more importantly to maximize increasing housing supply.