$73.5 billion is what HUD wants for fiscal 2027, a 13% cut from 2026 that Scott Turner defended before senators despite bipartisan resistance.
Turner said the plan would curb waste, abandon housing-first policies, and add 20-hour weekly work requirements plus five-year limits for able-bodied rental-aid recipients.
Senators from both parties challenged the overhaul: Kristen Gillibrand demanded delayed homelessness data, Shelley Moore Capito defended Community Development Block Grants, and Chris Coons said Continuum of Care delays had thrown local providers into chaos.
The proposal would eliminate longstanding local housing and homeless programs including CDBG and Continuum of Care, even as Turner called CoC a failed model and pledged HUD would follow the law.
Congress rejected a similar push last year and instead added $7.2 billion to HUD programs, setting up another difficult budget fight over homelessness policy and federal housing aid.
As new work rules are tied to housing aid, what is the backup plan if jobs are scarce?
How will communities fund vital repairs and services after a key federal development grant is eliminated?
Can local successes in reducing homelessness survive without federal 'housing-first' support?