United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is the head of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, a member of the Cabinet of the United States, and thirteenth in the United States presidential line of succession. The secretary is appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate and is responsible for administering federal housing and urban development programs. The position was established with the creation of the department in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of his Great Society domestic agenda.

History and creation of the office

The office was created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 9, 1965. This legislation elevated housing and urban issues to a cabinet-level priority, consolidating various agencies including the Housing and Home Finance Agency. The creation was a cornerstone of Johnson's Great Society and his declared "War on poverty," aiming to address urban blight, housing segregation, and inadequate public housing. The first secretary, Robert C. Weaver, appointed in 1966, was the first African American to serve in any U.S. Cabinet position. Subsequent secretaries have overseen the implementation of major laws like the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

Duties and responsibilities

The secretary's primary duty is to lead the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes. Key responsibilities include administering the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance program, overseeing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to states and cities, and enforcing the Fair Housing Act through the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The secretary also manages programs for public housing authorities, homeless assistance grants, and housing vouchers like Section 8. The office works closely with other federal agencies such as the United States Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve on housing finance policy.

List of secretaries

Since the department's inception, sixteen individuals have served as secretary, under presidents from Lyndon B. Johnson to Joe Biden. Notable secretaries include George Romney, who served under Richard Nixon and championed the Operation Breakthrough initiative; Jack Kemp, under George H. W. Bush, known for advocating enterprise zones; and Andrew Cuomo, under Bill Clinton, who focused on enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. The first female secretary was Carla Anderson Hills, appointed by Gerald Ford in 1975. The current secretary, Marcia Fudge, was confirmed in 2021 under President Joe Biden.

Succession and acting secretaries

The secretary is thirteenth in the United States presidential line of succession, following the United States Secretary of Transportation and preceding the United States Secretary of Energy. When the office is vacant, the United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development typically serves as acting secretary, as occurred when Brian Montgomery acted following the resignation of Alphonso Jackson in 2008. Other officials, such as the General Counsel, may also serve in an acting capacity if the deputy position is vacant, a scenario that arose briefly in 2017 before the confirmation of Ben Carson.

Relationship with Congress and the President

The secretary serves at the pleasure of the President of the United States and is a key advisor on domestic policy related to housing, urban development, and community planning. The office must regularly testify before congressional committees, including the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee, to justify the department's budget and defend policy initiatives. Major legislative actions, such as the passage of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 during the subprime mortgage crisis, require close coordination between the secretary, the White House, and leaders in the United States Congress like the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Category:United States Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development Category:1965 establishments in the United States